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WASHINGTON 

A  NATIONAL  EPIC 
IN  SIX  CANTOS 


BY  EDWARD  JOHNSON  RUNK 


SECOND    IMPRESSION 


G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS 

NEW  YORK    AND   LONDON 

Gbe  fmicfcerbocfcer  press 
1901 


COPYRIGHT,  1897 

BY 
EDWARD  JOHNSON  RUNK 

Entered  at  Stationers'  Hall,  London 


Ubc  ftnickerbochet  prcaa,  flew  Koch 


DEDICATED 

TO 
THE  PEOPLE 

OF 

THE  UNITED  STATES  OF 
AMERICA 


PREFACE 


THE  following  poem  was  written  at  Cold 
Spring  in  the  Hudson  Highlands  during 
the  summer  months  which  succeeded  the  cen 
tennial  celebration  of  Washington's  inaugura 
tion  as  first  President  of  the  United  States, 
April  30,  1789-1889.  Circumstances  have  de 
layed  its  publication  until  the  present  time. 

To  one  residing  in  the  Hudson  Highlands  the 
inspirations  of  mountain  scenery  are  associated 
with  historic  memories  of  the  romantic  revolu 
tionary  period.  As  yet  no  one,  to  our  know 
ledge,  had  woven  or  attempted  to  weave  in 
unity  of  person  and  place  the  poetic  thoughts, 
which  nature  and  history  here  suggest  in  won 
derful  richness  and  importance. 

So  marvelous  has  been  the  growth  of  our 
country  that  the  revolutionary  epoch  may  ap 
pear  relatively  more  remote  than  it  really  is, 
and  to  the  young  and  the  many  who  have  come 


vi  PREFA  CE. 

from  other  countries  to  our  shores  a  halo  of 
romance  may  envelop  the  persons  of  the  heroes 
of  that  age. 

The  nobility  of  his  character,  the  difficulties 
with  which  he  successfully  contended,  the  im 
portance  of  the  humane  principles  for  which  he 
labored  in  conjuncton  with  his  fellow-citizens, 
render  Washington  as  inspiring  and  honorable 
a  character  for  poetic  tribute  as  may  be  found 
among  the  imperfect  children  of  mortality. 

The  following  lines  find  in  Washington  unity 
of  person,  in  the  Hudson  Highlands  unity  of 
place,  in  the  American  Revolution  unity  of  his 
tory,  and  in  the  principles  of  constitutional 
republicanism  unity  of  philosophy.  The  order 
of  cantos  is  historic;  their  names  are  taken 
from  places  around  us  that  have  been  centres  of 
revolutionary  association ;  and,  while  the  prin 
cipal  events  of  such  places  have  been  elaborated 
in  the  respective  cantos,  the  aim  has  been  to 
maintain  historic  continuity  and  trace  the  rela 
tive  significance  of  local  occurrences  in  the 
totality  of  the  general  movement.  The  first 
canto,  "  Constitution  Island,"  describes  the 
advent  of  free  principles  to  our  country,  the 
fortifications  early  erected  in  the  place  that 
names  the  canto,  and  the  course  of  events  until 
Burgoyne's  campaign  in  1777,  at  which  time 


PREFA  CE.  Vll 

the  three  forts,  Montgomery,  Clinton,  and 
Constitution,  came  into  prominence.  To  the 
second  canto  the  name  "  The  Three  Forts  "  is 
therefore  given,  and  Clinton's  diversion  in  Bur- 
goyne's  favor  is  described,  with  the  brilliant 
resistance  of  our  men  at  the  Forts  Montgomery 
and  Clinton.  A  description  of  succeeding 
events  follows  in  the  third  canto,  "  Stony 
Point,"  showing  the  condition  of  affairs,  when 
Wayne  made  his  gallant  and  successful  mid 
night  charge  upon  that  important  post ;  and 
account  of  this  action  gives  a  climax  to  the 
canto.  The  richness  of  association  at  West 
Point  naturally  tended  to  make  the  fourth 
canto,  so  named,  the  longest.  The  origin  of 
the  works  there,  the  complot  of  Arnold  and 
Andr£  against  its  safety,  the  celebration  of  the 
dauphin's  birth,  the  location  of  the  military 
academy  and  the  services  of  its  graduates  have 
suggested  many  lines.  In  the  fifth  canto, 
'  Fishkill,"  we  have  described  the  army  of  the 
revolution  patiently  waiting,  even  amid  suffer 
ing,  until  the  final  success  at  Yorktown  crowned 
their  endurance  with  victory.  The  reminis 
cences  of  constitutional  convention,  army  en 
campment,  hospital,  and  prison  have  been 
alluded  to,  and  the  memories  of  Cold  Spring 
woven  into  the  tale  of  the  Marquis  de  Chastel- 


viii  PREFACE. 

lux's  journey.  Newburgh  has  given  title  to 
the  last  canto,  in  which  Washington's  wisdom 
in  dealing  with  the  army  stationed  there  has 
been  extolled,  the  excursion  to  Peekskill  to 
receive  the  French  on  their  homeward  journey 
described,  and  the  closing  scenes  of  disband- 
ment  of  our  army  at  Newburgh  after  cessation 
of  hostilities  set  forth. 

The  writer  would  acknowledge  his  indebted 
ness  to  the  many  historians  and  other  authori 
ties  consulted  for  matters  which  he  has 
endeavored  so  to  use  that  truth  should  not  be 
invaded  by  imagination.  Truth  is  often  high 
est  art ;  and  the  story  of  our  patriotic  ancestors' 
struggle  for  constitutional  freedom  has  its  own 
charm  for  true  patriots.  If  the  writer's  lines 
shall  have  stimulated  reverence  and  gratitude 
for  past  worthies  and  sympathy  with  the  patri 
otic  principles  which  animated  them,  his  labor 
will  have  been  repaid.  Notes  have  been  added 
to  throw  light  on  a  few  points  in  the  poem ; 
and  a  later  edition  may  be  embellished  with 
appropriate  illustrations. 

The  historic  places  around  Schuylerville,  New 
York,  where  Burgoyne's  army  was  surrendered, 
have  been  happily  designated  by  the  erection 
of  memorial  bronze  tablets,  and  the  suggestion 
occurs  whether  our  wealthy  residents  on  both 


PREFA  CE.  IX 

sides  of  the  river  in  the  Highlands  may  not  be 
moved  to  similar  patriotic  offerings  to  perpet 
uate  to  posterity  the  revolutionary  associations 
of  their  own  neighborhood.  In  such  tributes 
to  olden  worth  and  valor  the  prophecy  of 
Washington  in  his  orders,  announcing  the  ces 
sation  of  hostilities,  may  find  additional  fulfill 
ment :  "  Happy,  thrice  happy,  shall  they  be 
pronounced  hereafter,  who  shall  have  con 
tributed  anything,  who  have  performed  the 
meanest  office,  in  erecting  this  stupendous 
fabric  of  freedom  and  empire  on  the  broad 
basis  of  independency ;  who  have  assisted  in 
protecting  the  rights  of  human  nature,  and 
establishing  an  asylum  for  the  poor  and  op 
pressed  of  all  nations  and  religions." 

It  is  hoped  that  as  the  children  and  people 
of  Greece  and  Rome  imbibed  the  national  spirit 
from  Homer's  Iliad  and  Virgil's  ^.neid  re 
spectively,  and  as  the  various  nations  of  mod 
ern  Europe  have  their  respective  epics,  as  the 
Italians  Dante's  Divine  Comedy  and  Tasso's 
Jerusalem  Delivered,  the  Portuguese  The 
Lusiad  of  De  Camoens,  the  English  Spenser's 
Faerie  Queene  and  Milton's  Paradise  Lost,  so 
the  children  and  youth  and  the  people  of  the 
United  States  at  large,  as  well  as  of  the  States 
where  the  revolutionary  history  in  particular 


X  PREFA  CE. 

occurred,  may  so  read  and  study  this  centennial 
epic  as  to  find  in  it  not  only  an  intellectual  dis 
cipline  but  also  a  refreshing  fount  of  purest 
patriotism. 

EDWARD  J.  RUNK. 

Sept.  17,  1897. 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

PREFACE         .......  v 

CANTO  FIRST i 

CANTO  SECOND      ......  26 

CANTO  THIRD 52 

CANTO  FOURTH     ......  74 

CANTO  FIFTH 102 

CANTO  SIXTH        ......  120 

NOTES  TO  CANTO  FIRST       ....  137 

NOTES  TO  CANTO  SECOND    ....  145 

NOTES  TO  CANTO  THIRD      .         .         .  151 

NOTES  TO  CANTO  FOURTH  ....  155 

NOTES  TO  CANTO  FIFTH      ....  161 

NOTES  TO  CANTO  SIXTH      ....  164 


WASHINGTON 

A  NATIONAL  EPIC  IN  SIX  CANTOS 


FAIR  time  and  region  of  our  land, 
Whose  memories  join  us  to  the  band 
Of  heroes  that  for  freedom  stood ! 
From  silver  stream  and  mountain  wood, 
'Neath  open  sky,  'mid  nature  grand 
We  celebrate  the  law's  demand  ' 
For  governmental  form  secure 
In  Federal  union  to  assure 
The  people  of  their  hard-bought  right 
From  thraldom  of  tyrannic  might. 
O  Freedom  fair,  o'er  all  the  earth 


WASHINGTON. 

Reveal  thy  bright  celestial  birth ! 
Infinitude  perfection  finds; 
But  human  hearts  that  sinning  blinds 
Lose  liberty  of  vision  clear, 
And  toilsome  agitate  with  fear. 
Roaming  migration  peopled  lands, 
And  mind  along  with  body  stands 
Enlightened  in  the  course  of  years, 
For  freedom  yearning  oft  in  tears, 
Enriched,  ennobled  by  the  dawn, 
Advanced  to  loftier  height  and  lawn 
Of  emerald  hope,  unfading  faith, 
When  worldliness  sees  but  a  wraith. 


II 


In  Egypt  Israel  lay  enslaved  ; " 

To  Sinai's  mount  led  forth  and  saved. 

Divinest  law  conserved  their  state, 

Adorned  by  kings  and  prophets  great. 

From  Persian  servitude  redeemed 

The  tribes  the  synagogues  esteemed 

As  keepers  of  prophetic  sign, 

Precursor  in  Davidic  line 

Of  the  Messiah,  one  Divine, 

Through  whom  their  stately  glories  shine. 

With  Israel's  sad  captivity 

Mark  Grecia's  bold  democracy, 


CONS  77  T  U  TION  I  SLA  ND. 

Resistance  of  the  Persian's  hordes, 
When  Marathon  defeats  his  lords, 
And  saves  broad  Europe  from  the  lash 
Of  puerile,  oriental,  trash. 
Demosthenes  for  freedom  strove 
To  keep  the  city  of  his  love, 
Proud  Athens,  from  Macedon's  gold, 
And  Philip's  phalanx  southward  rolled. 
In  art  fair  Hellas  stood  supreme, 
A  sculptured,  architectural  dream, 
In  philosophic  fancy  great 
And  schools  of  thought  to  speculate 
On  mind  and  matter  and  the  state, 
Plato's  Republic  and  the  weight 
Of  Aristotle's  practical  pate 
In  Politics,  the  world's  debate. 


Ill 


When  Grecia  languished  in  decline, 

The  Roman  rose  with  legal  sign. 

Twelve  massive  tables  marked  the  right 

Of  citizens  exempt  from  might 

Of  kings  expelled,  while  consuls  twain 

The  independences  maintain 

Domestic  and  abroad  in  war. 

Patricians,  from  plebeians  far 

In  peace,  prepared,  with  Carthage  felled, 


WASHINGTON. 

To  circle  Asia  vast,  compelled 
The  Alexandrian  power  to  yield, 
Chaldean  and  Egyptian  field, 
To  Caesar's  universal  sway, 
Enforced  by  legions  in  array. 
With  proconsuls  imperious, 
Taxation,  justice  serious, 
And  unity  of  law  imposed, 
The  heathen  empire  was  composed, 
Till,  'neath  Teutonic  fury  pressed, 
The  Roman  weakness  lay  confessed  ; 
Yet  in  death  grapple  won  a  day 
Of  life  for  legalistic  sway, 
The  jural  form,  the  civil  power, 
The  language  of  the  learned  hour, 
While,  mixed  with  Hebrew  thought, 
And  blended  as  the  Grecian  wrought 
In  art  supreme,  Rome's  hand  is  seen 
In  pontiff  line,  where  kings  had  been. 

IV 

The  language-pierced  from  Shinar's  plain 
Were  scattered  o'er  the  broad  domain 
Of  earth's  thick  forests,  mountains  high, 
And  swelling  streams  or  wadies  dry. 
Pelasgic  Greek  and  Roman  brave 
Precede  the  Kelt  and  Teuton  wave 


CONSTITUTION  ISLAND. 

Barbaric,  surging  to  the  West. 
Druidic  sylvan  verdure  best 
From  these  the  Gothic  art  addressed, 
In  mythologic  thought  confessed 
By  us  in  names  of  weekly  days, 
While  free  assemblies,  votes  and  ways 
Of  tribal  rule,  for  woman  fear 
And  truth's  dominion  kept  severe, 
Conserved  the  race  of  modern  hope, 
Prepared  the  states  'neath  feudal  cope, 
And  gallant  kings  for  chivalry, 
And  crusades  vast  beyond  the  sea. 
In  these  behold  the  nations  one, 
To  rescue  lands  by  Muslim  won, 
For  freedom  battling,  ideal  high, 
A  cross,  a  hope,  beyond  the  sky, 
And  feudal  lords,  devoutly  led, 
Of  vast  dominions  vastly  bled, 
Consolidating  monarchies 
By  weakening  aristocracies. 

V 

O  myriad-treasured  Nature,  Queen  * 

Benignant  with  devices  seen 

At  last  subservient  to  free 

Mankind  from  crude  captivity! 

Phenicia  spread  her  sails  to  bring 

The  goods  and  thoughts  on  helpful  wing 


WASHINGTON. 

Of  nations  distant  o'er  the  sea, 
In  trade  one  in  fraternity, 
Enriched  through  her  with  alphabet, 
Whose  origins,  in  Egypt  set, 
Vie  with  the  Chinese  boasted  arts, 
And  all  the  warlike,  deadly,  darts. 
The  moderns  add  the  powder  charged 
With  flaming  death  to  hosts  enlarged, 
Diseased  from  cumbrous  coats  of  mail 
That  melt  as  snow  beneath  the  hail 
Of  bullets  beating  as  a  flail. 
The  type  and  printed  page  diffuse 
To  many  minds  the  learned  views ; 
And  magnet  needles  loose  from  shore 
The  timid  vessels  that  before 
Knew  not  the  open,  boistrous,  sea, 
Nor  continent  of  liberty. 
Fair  Italy  the  laws  of  trade 
In  banks  and  bills  and  vessels  made, 
Prepared  from  Genoa  to  give 
Columbus  for  the  world  to  live. 

VI 

Brave  soul  that  ventured'st  o'er  the  mere 

After  eight  years  of  pleading  near 

To  expectation  or  despair, 

Buoyed  up  by  Christian  faith  most  rare! 


CONSTITUTION  ISLAND.  ; 

'Mid  Summer  and  Autumnal  days 
Thou  sailed'st  o'er  the  watery  ways, 
Till  on  October  morn  the  land 
Descried  proved  harbinger  of  grand 
Republics,  and  asylum  large 
For  men  fleeing  before  the  charge 
Of  persecution,  bringing  here 
A  new  foundation,  hope  to  cheer, 
Emancipate,  and  Christianize; 
While  Redmen  made  the  white  man  wise 
To  till  and  use  new  herbs  and  foods, 
Exchanging  with  Europa's  goods. 
Bearer  of  worth,  O  Christopher!  * 
Columbus,  dove  then  sent  over 
To  find  a  resting  place  where  man 
Might  disembark,  republican. 

VII 

Meanwhile  the  Teuton  kindreds  move 
In  restiveness  profound  'gainst  love 
Of  Roman  chain  of  Church  supreme, 
By  schism  rent,  a  dismal  dream 
Of  discord,  shameful  to  the  heart 
That  sought  sincere  the  better  part, 
Obedient  to  the  voice  divine, 
That  bears  the  branches,  deathless  Vine. 
Now  blew  bold  Luther  clarion  loud, 
That  tore  by  faith  the  shriveled  shroud 


WASHINGTON. 

Of  legalistic  fetters  proud 

That  kept  the  masses  prison  cowed. 

Shrewd  Calvin  gave  the  world  new  form 

Of  olden  liberty  the  norm, 

For  people  led  from  durance  long 

In  England,  lifting  high  the  song 

Of  pure  ideals,  while  Holland  staunch 

The  federal  ship  will  duly  launch, 

And  shake  the  Spanish  thraldom  down, 

And  found  the  new  world's  empire  town. 

VIII 

O  England,  white-cliffed,  wave-girt  isle !  * 

Home  of  the  British  Arthur,  while 

He  fought  the  pagan  Saxon  stout, 

In  turn  by  Normans  put  to  rout, 

What  time  victorious  William  led 

His  chivalry  at  Hastings  red 

With  vanquished  slain,  or  turned  and  fled 

King  Harold's  warriors,  hard  bestead. 

The  barons  wrested  chartered  right 

From  trembling,  royal,  selfish  might ; 

And  yeomen  bold  in  Parliament, 

Or  French  or  roseate  wars  resent 

Encroachment  on  their  liberty, 

Till  to  the  fall  of  papacy 

They  add  the  axe  to  monarchy, 


CONSTITUTION  ISLAND. 

While  Cromwell  rules  on  land  and  sea, 
With  warriors  stern  and  Harrison," 
Whose  honored  scions  twain  have  won 
The  chieftainship  in  later  day 
And  state  beyond  the  ocean  way, 
Whose  freedom  throve,  when  Stuarts  fled, 
And  William,  Prince  of  Orange,  led 
The  revolution  to  the  throne, 
Whence  kings  the  people's  power  own. 


IX 


Her  colonies  beyond  the  sea 

Erelong  proved  England's  greater  glory, 

Though  Puritans  for  refuge  came, 

And  romance  heightens  Raleigh's  name. 

The  Baltimores  taught  tolerance, 

And  commerce  might  the    Dutch  enhance. 

The  jealous  Indian's  war-whoop  wild, 

The  slaughter  of  the  wife  and  child, 

Gaunt  war,  disease,  and  famine  dread 

Proved  valor  to  adventure  wed, 

And  union  sure,  by  danger  bred, 

Of  colonies  in  armies  led. 

From  Canada  the  Bourbon  went ; 

And  England  claimed  the  continent; 

Till  waxing  poor,  and  long  waxed  proud, 

Her  nobles  wrapped  their  Stamp-Act  shroud 


IO  WASHINGTON. 


Secure  around  their  feeble  state, 
Awakening  to  the  loud  debate 
Adams,  Henry,  and  Franklin  great.7 

X 

Hail,  Congress  of  colonial  days!  * 
In  New  York  met,  devising  ways 
To  teach  mankind  the  right  to  tax 
Themselves,  till  nine  years  bolder  wax; 
And  commerce  lies  with  Britain  lost 
Till  tyranny  shall  count  its  cost. 
Ye  bitter  days  of  Indian  strife, 
The  sacrifice  of  precious  life, 
How  rich  were  ye  to  bring  a  truth 
Of  discipline  and  union,  sooth 
Necessity  to  her  compelled, 
And  jealous  cloudlets  were  dispelled  : 
For  public  woe,  like  private  grief, 
Can  bring  a  value  past  belief; 
And  darkness  ends  with  dawn's  relief, 
If  light  reveals  the  head  as  chief. 

XI 

Great  scion  of  the  Norman  lord,9 
Whom  Durham's  acres  could  afford 
A  resting  place  at  Wessyngton 
Soon  after  England's  crown  was  won! 


CONSTITUTION  ISLAND.  II 


Ancestral  sire,  a  royal  knight, 
Created  by  the  monarch's  might, 
To  whose  successor  firm  he  stood, 
Left  Durham  for  Virginia's  wood, 
Potomac's  stream  and  mountains  grand, 
With  broad  demesne  in  Westmoreland. 
Near  tribute  stream  thine  eyes  saw  light ; 
Maternal  love  trained  thee  aright; 
Fraternal  care  Mount  Vernon  gave 
To  thee  a  fund  of  wealth  to  save 
The  land,  whose  people  heard  of  him 
That  led  the  troops  'mid  forests  grim. 
When  Braddock  fell,  they  heard  of  how 
He  held  his  men  with  fearless  brow, 
And  brought  them  back,  O  peerless  one, 
Serene  and  matchless  Washington ! 

XII 

When  British  arms,  sent  to  our  shore,10 

Awoke  the  people  calm  before, 

And  quartered  insolence  defied 

The  justice  more  intense,  when  tried 

By  angry  bullets  in  a  quiet  town, 

Prompt  hands,  disguised,  the  tea  chests  drown. 

Though  Boston  port  be  rudely  closed, 

Of  sterner  stuff  the  mass  composed 

Joined  with  the  suffering  city  brave 


12  WASHINGTON. 


'Mid  surges  of  tyrannic  wave, 
Fasted,  and  of  their  substance  gave 
For  her  relief  and  sure  renown 
That  firm  withstood  the  kingly  frown. 
Concord  and  Lexington  became 
Our  Marathon  of  freedom's  fame, 
And  from  the  blood  of  heroes  shed 
A  voice  over  the  country  sped 
To  call  the  nation  to  the  dread 
Arbitrament  of  warlike  will, 
Reverberant  on  Bunker  Hill. 

XIII 

Weep  not,  O  Holland !  that  thy  hand 

Foundation  laid  in  distant  land 

By  mouth  of  Hudson's  beauteous  stream 

Of  city  like  imperial  dream, 

Surrendered  to  the  English  crown,11 

As  though  man's  freedom  e'er  went  down. 

Thy  sturdy  blood  secure  remained, 

And,  when  its  patient  cup  was  drained, 

Rallied,  resisting  soldiers  led 

To  private  house  and  board  and  bed ; 

Or  stamps  and  teas  denounced  or  broke, 

And  with  the  land  in  union  woke, 

Concerting  measures,  saving  all, 

With  Jay  and  Hamilton  to  call 


CONSTITUTION  ISLAND.  13 


The  people  to  the  world's  debate, 
Schuyler,  Clinton,  Livingstons  great, 
Who  built  a  nation  with  a  state. 

XIV 

Britannia  might  o'er  ocean  reign 

And  towns  that  lay  upon  the  main ; 

But  in  the  Highlands  of  our  stream 

America  secure  would  dream 

Of  liberty  that,  like  the  hills, 

Mounts  heavenward  with  raptured  thrills 

Of  beatific  loftiness 

And  everlasting  happiness. 

A  score  of  miles  the  regions  run 

Where  rise  the  mountains  to  the  sun 

That  climbs  and  sinks  upon  their  mass, 

The  Nose  of  Anthony,  the  crass 

Dutch  trumpeter  of  Stuyvesant,14 

With  Dunderberg  that  looks  askant 

Toward  Bear  Hill,  that  looms  behind, 

And  range  of  mounts  that  Northward  wind 

Till  in  Crow  Nest  and  round  Storm  King 

A  terminus  they  lowly  bring 

At  ancient  Newburgh,  prosperous  grown. 

Opposing  her  the  mountains  loan 

Their  Beacon  shadows  to  the  streets 

Of  thrifty  Fishkill  and  the  seats 


1 4  IV A  SHING  TON. 


At  Matteawan  of  busy  wheels 

Whose  rock-spilt  stream  propulsive  reels. 

A  Breakneck  cape  the  Hudson  fronts 

By  valley  where  pedestrian  hunts 

The  waters  round  of  Lake  Surprise ; 

And  Southward  rolls  the  mountain-rise 

Of  Taurus  with  its  Table  Rock 

That  guards  the  village  like  a  flock, 

The  place  that  Cold  Spring  was  to  be ; 

And  farther  South  projecting  see! 

The  massive  cliffs  peninsular, 

The  lofty  rocks  of  Martelar,13 

With  Redoubt  Mountains  rolling  high, 

And  Sugar  Loaf  to  pierce  the  sky 

With  everlasting  sweetness,  seen 

To  undulate  with  cloudy  sheen 

Till  Manitou  his  hill  disclose, 

Protected  by  Antonian  Nose.14 

XV 

Here,  where  the  Appalachian  range, 

With  mounds  and  minerals  rich  and  strange, 

Unites  the  South  and  Puritan, 

The  thought  of  patriots  cunning  ran 

To  fortify  and  hold  for  aye 

Against  the  coming  warlike  fray. 

Provincial  Congress  of  New  York 


CONSTITUTION  ISLAND.  15 


An  order  gave  to  start  the  work, 
And  ere  a  score  of  days  had  fled 
In  August  with  her  Dog  Star  red, 
Memorable  year  of  Seventy-five, 
It  was  made  known  to  all  alive 
The  Highlands  should  a  fortress  be 
For  all  the  world  and  liberty. 

XVI 

Eleven  suns  their  daily  race  had  run 

When  Romans  had  his  work  begun  16 

Obedient  to  the  people's  will 

To  fortify  the  island  hill. 

In  heart  of  Highland  mountain  wood, 

Where  Hudson's  waters  bend  their  flood, 

A  point  projects  to  stop  the  stream 

With  rocks  that  towering  upward  seem 

To  speeding  boatmen  'neath  their  shade 

As  if  they  with  the  cloudlets  played, 

Or  huge,  precipitous,  were  like, 

Falling,  all  things  to  atoms  strike. 

Eight  score  feet  upward  rise  the  trees 

Upon  the  river  point,  where  breeze 

Perpetual  rustles  all  the  leaves 

That  stand  where  loitering  eye  perceives 

The  site  of  olden  works  of  war 

That  crowned  the  heights  of  Martelar. 


1 6  WASHINGTON. 


There  Romans  built  a  fort  of  stone, 
And  Constitution  named  it,  grown 
To  full  proportions,  with  redoubt 
And  batteries,  where  cannon  shout 
Their  mad  refrain,  and  round  about 
The  hills  the  echoes  loudly  flout. 

XVII 

We  clamber  up  the  rocky  slopes 

And  stand  on  site  of  ancient  hopes 

Of  freedom's  struggle  glory  crowned 

With  issue  of  the  war  renowned. 

The  rough-piled  walls  are  steadfast  still 

On  summit  of  our  island  hill, 

And  four  the  sides  that  run  the  round 

Of  safety  on  that  vantage  ground. 

Below  the  remnants  yet  are  seen 

Of  war's  building,  now  smooth  with  green, 

A  house  'mid  forestry  serene, 

And  neighboring  gleam  of  river  sheen, 

The  mirror  of  the  eye's  delight 

That  glances  o'er  the  gladsome  sight. 

XVIII 

Northward  the  wandring  look  beholds  . 
Descending  river  that  enfolds 


CONSTITUTION  ISLAND,  I? 


The  island  fortress  in  its  sweep, 
Here  shrunk  most  narrow  and  most  deep. 
Mount  Taurus  thrusts  his  tongue  far  out 
In  Stony  Point,  which  round  about 
The  waters  rush.     On  Breakneck  and 
Its  camel  humps  the  end  of  land 
Seems  come  on  Eastward  rolling  shore, 
And  Storm  King  lifts  its  mass  before 
Opposing  hill.     Between  them  rise 
The  heights  of  Western  bank  that  lies 
Above  the  soaring  ridge  supreme 
O'er  tempests  and  the  resting  gleam 
Of  bird-wings  fluttered  to  their  rest 
When  solar  chariot  seeks  the  West. 
Eastward  the  trees  conceal  from  view 
The  marshy  meadows,  which  accrue 
The  name  of  island  to  the  scene, 
Once  girt  in  days  that  long  have  been 
By  ocean-seeking  river  cleft, 
Which  channel  sought,  and  old  bed  left. 
Southward  the  stretch  of  waters  ends 
In  wooded  slopes,  where  beauty  blends 
The  massiveness  of  earth  below 
With  cloud-kissed  vault,  cerulean  glow. 
And  as,  returning  Westward,  trend 
The  raptured  eyes  to  journey's  end, 
A  Western  Point,  with  higher  plain 
And  higher  hills,  adds  its  domain 


1 8  WASHINGTON. 


O'erlooking  all,  with  martial  strain 
In  trump  and  cannon,  war's  refrain. 

XIX 

Here  came  on  April  morn  the  feet" 

Of  Franklin,  who  chained  lightning  fleet, 

And  printed  words  of  wisdom  meet 

To  guide  the  mind,  and  with  discreet 

Counsel  a  diplomat  abroad 

Won  Europe's  favor  to  our  sword. 

May's  buds  of  beauty  welcome  bloomed 

To  Stirling's  Lord,  whom  fortune  doomed 

To  lose  an    earldom,  but  bestowed 

A  better  diadem  that  glowed 

With  splendor  from  fair  Freedom's  crown 

And  bloody  battle's  loud  renown. 

His  glance  the  Western  Point  discerned 

Superior,  from  which  he  learned 

Advantage  for  the  future  state, 

And  hastened  to  communicate 

The  tidings  to  great  Washington, 

Who  hither  came,  when  Autumn  sun 

Had  kissed  the  leaves  October,  red, 

And  Summer's  mildness  turned  and  fled. 

The  Clintons,  Mifflin,  Stirling,  Heath 

His  steps  attended,  and  beneath 

The  island  fastness  all  surveyed. 


CONSTITUTION  ISLAND.  19 


At  early  dawn  on  horse  they  paid 

A  visit  to  the  Northern  gate ; 

Then  turning,  ere  the  morn  grew  late, 

He  charged  brave  Heath  the  hills  to  keep, 

And  crossing  o'er  the  waters  deep, 

Rode  Jerseyward  on  Southern  track, 

And  reached  the  town  of  Hackensack. 

XX 

Those  river  shores  now  peaceful  rest, 

And  letters  make  the  place  as  blest 

In  later  days  as  erst  the  fort 

For  freedom's  cause  made  it  resort 

Of  patriot  heroes,  planning  shrewd 

To  guard  their  land  'mid  strife  renewed. 

The  legal  Warner  erudite  ir 

In  these  retreats  found  home's  delight, 

And  here  his  daughters  sweetly  wrote 

Of  Wide,  Wide  World,  of  world-wide  note, 

And  Queechy  by  the  many  read, 

And  Hills  of  Shatemuc  that  led 

Imagination  to  the  scene, 

Where  memory  adds  to  verdure  green 

The  reverence  which  the  many  feel 

For  those  who  wrote  the  Say  and  Seal. 

Now  one  fair  hand  is  still  in  death, 

Whose  voice  in  works  perused  hath  breath ; 


2O  WA  SHING  TON. 


And  one  yet  blesses  with  her  life 
The  hallowed  spot  of  freedom's  strife. 

XXI 

Nor  Constitution  Isle  alone 
Did  Romans  fortify  with  stone, 
But  to  the  hills  his  men  were  drawn 
To  Eastern  shore  with  sturdy  brawn 
To  plant  the  heights  with  nests  of  war 
And  cast  the  bird's  glance  near  and  far. 
Redoubt  Mountains  to  South  and  North 
Were  ready  made  to  issue  forth 
The  metal  and  the  men  of  Mars 
Like  deadly  meteors,  baleful  stars. 
On  Sugar  Loaf  another  work 
Harbors  the  fort  where  warriors  lurk. 
Now  Osborn's  castle  crowns  the  height 
Hospitable  to  give  the  sight 
Exalted  o'er  a  beauteous  scene, 
While  near  the  banks  of  river  sheen 
Great  Fish,  with  laurel  wreath  of  praise 
For  country  served  through  length  of  days, 
Rests  'mid  associations  grand 
And  honors  of  a  grateful  land. 
Sagacious  Sloan  on  Redoubt  slopes 
Fans  Winter's  toils  with  Summer's  hopes, 
And  Livingstons  keep  stately  seats 


CONSTITUTION  ISLAND.  21 


Where  ancient  worthiness  repeats 
Its  excellence,  while  still  remain 
The  scions  of  the  ancient  train, 
And  still  our  town  in  memory  keeps 
The  worthy  name  of  rich  Philipse. 

XXII 

And  lower  still  on  Western  bank, 
Where  Bear  Hill  rears  its  gloomy  flank, 
Confronting  the  Antonian  Nose, 
Each  side  where  creek  to  river  flows, 
A  fort  opposing  quickly  rose. 
In  lower  county  Clinton  stood,18 
On  upper  side  in  lofty  wood 
Montgomery  its  breastworks  reared, 
And  cannon  o'er  the  ramparts  peered. 
The  Horse  Race  soldiers  scanned  to  see 
Approaches  of  the  enemy, 
And  on  the  North  side  of  the  bay, 
Where  even  then  old  Peekskill  lay, 
Fort  Independence  with  its  guns 
Rose  watchful  with  the  morning  suns. 

XXIII 

These  peaceful  scenes  sublime  prepared 
From  war  a  twelvemonth  more  were  spared,. 


22  WASHINGTON. 


While  Northern  regions  heard  the  roar 
Of  combat  on  Laurentian  shore. 
Allen  and  Arnold  at  the  lakes  '* 
Forts  and  victory  gain  that  makes 
A  way  to  Canada,  where  falls 
Montgomery  before  the  walls 
Of  high  Quebec,  and  Winter's  gloom 
Congeals  the  hopes  of  Summer's  bloom. 

XXIV 

Yet  firm  before  brave  Boston  lay 

The  army  watchful  for  the  day 

When  breastworks  on  Dorchester  thrown, 

And  tempest  from  the  ocean  blown, 

Should  hinder  Howe  from  hot  attack, 

And  save  the  city  from  the  sack 

Of  war's  mortality  of  shells. 

Of  foreign  rule  time  strikes  the  knells, 

And  on  the  Martian  morning  sailed 

The  hostile  army  unbewailed 

By  patriot  hearts  that  joyous  hailed 

The  victory  of  Virginia's  son, 

The  patient,  dauntless,  Washington." 

XXV 

The  Southern  clime,  solstitial  sun, 
Saw  hostile  sails  approach  Charleston, 


CONSTITUTION  ISLAND.  2$ 

And  hot  assault  from  ships  begun. 
But  Moultrie  fearless,  pipe  in  hand, 
Stood  ready  with  his  brave  command, 
And  hulled  the  craft  with  shells. 
The  fort  was  shrieking  with  the  yells 
Of  whizzing  balls,  and  one  had  flung 
The  standard  down,  and  low  it  hung 
O'er  ramparts  traversed  by  red  death. 
While  others  looked  with  bated  breath, 
Fearless,  brave  Jasper,  leaping  out, 
The  flag  regained,  and,  turned  about, 
Replaced  it  on  the  merlon  high 
To  float  its  colors  to  the  sky, 
Till  darkness  veiled  the  dreadful  hour, 
And  with  the  tide  ebbed  Britain's  power.11 

XXVI 

Meanwhile  in  civic  Congress  met 
Colonial  statesmen  boldly  set 
Their  purpose  to  achievement  grand 
Of  independence  for  the  land. 
Virginia's  motion  well  received, 
And  freedom's  logic  soon  believed, 
Gave  Jefferson  his  pen  the  right 
The  Declaration  to  indite, 
With  Adams,  Franklin,  Sherman  near, 
And  Livingston,  a  band  the  peer 


24  WASHINGTON. 


Of  Europe's  statesmen,  or  the  flower 
Of  ancient  Rome  and  Grecian  power. 
Great  Julius  gave  his  name  sublime" 
To  month  of  annual,  solar,  time ; 
And  fourth  the  day  of  Caesar's  moon, 
And  late  the  hour,  well  after  noon, 
When  Congress  voted  and  declared 
The  colonies  as  States  prepared 
Their  independence  to  maintain 
Of  equal  rights  and  gentle  reign 
Of  faith  in  truth  and  liberty. 
The  people  welcomed  joyfully 
The  triumph  of  their  waiting  cause, 
And  all  the  world  rang  with  applause 
At  that  celestial  ray  of  light 
Which  banished  policy  with  right. 

XXVII 

The  conflict  hot  Long  Island  next 
Renewed  near  rivered  city,  vexed 
With  heart  divided.     Sore  perplexed 
With  crowding  forces  of  the  foe, 
While  friendly  fogs  their  mantles  throw, 
With  Washington  the  troops  withdraw 
In  silence  of  the  night,  and  saw 
Manhattan's  welcoming  morning  rise. 
For  them  Hale  falls  a  sacrifice ; 


CONSTITUTION  ISLAND.  2$ 


And  stout  resistance  Harlem  made, 

And  valorous  deeds  White  Plains  displayed. 

The  Hudson  at  the  Palisade 

Of  rock  the  army  crossed. 

November  saw  the  fortress  lost 

Of  Washington  on  Eastern  shore. 

December  with  its  Wintry  store 

Of  snow  and  ice  retreating  bore 

The  shivering  host  that  Southward  fare 

Across  the  freezing  Delaware." 

XXVIII 

The  Hessian  Christmas  merriment 
Provoked  the  voyage  and  descent 
On  Trenton's  slumbering  town 
And  Princeton's  field,  where  with  renown 
Fell  Mercer.     Morristown  received 
The  patient  soldiery,  who  relieved 
The  country  of  the  hostile  bands, 
Till  September  saw  in  Southern  strands 
The  foe  disbark  for  Brandywine, 
Victorious  o'er  the  patriot  line; 
And  Germantown  in  vain  renewed 
The  struggle  with  disaster  strewed, 
Till  Winter  drew  the  hosts  apart, 
And  Valley  Forge  concealed  the  heart 
That  patient  watched  for  coming  morn 
Amid  privations  poor  and  lorn." 


CANTO   SECOND 

THE  THREE  FORTS 

I 

CANADIAN  shores  sent  forth  their  storm 
Upon  the  patriot  state  in  form 
Of  deadly  war,  and  with  Burgoyne 
As  leader  of  the  host,  purloin 
The  people's  lands  and  common  blood 
Like  ancient  stock  o'er  ocean's  flood. 
Germania's  thousands  were  enrolled 
By  princelings  to  a  kinglet  sold, 
To  bend  free  kinsmen  to  his  will, 
And  with  their  lives  the  coffers  fill 
Of  Europe's  poor  but  haughty  lords. 
Nor  scorned  the  foe  to  add  to  swords 
The  Indian  tomahawk  and  cry 
Of  death  wrought  by  the  allies  sly. 
Six  Nations  gave  power  to  the  host,1 
Descending  with  a  haughty  boast 
Of  victory  to  pierce  the  heart 
26 


THE  THREE  FORTS.  2? . 


Of  freedom's  citadel,  and  part 

New  England  from  states  West  and  South, 

And  sail  the  Hudson  to  its  mouth. 


II 


Below  the  waters  of  Champlain 
The  foe  advanced,  alert  to  rain 
Destruction  at  the  Georgian  Lake, 
Whose  wooded  hills  successive  make, 
With  clearest  waters  stretched  between, 
The  traveller's  ideal  scene. 
Ticonderoga  fell  again  a; 
But,  fleeing,  St.  Clair  saved  his  men, 
And  through  the  wilderness  withdrew 
To  Fort  Edward,  where  Schuyler  knew 
The  story  of  disaster  grave. 
Here,  where  the  Hudson's  waters  lave 
The  thirsty  shores,  and,  broadening,  rush 
O'er  rocky  beds  with  murmuring  gush, 
And  Southward  fix  their  steady  course, 
The  ancients  raise  with  warlike  force 
Securely  built  a  fortress  named 
Fort  Edward,  fort  in  annals  famed. 
Delayed  by  broken  roads,  the  foe 
Their  lazy  length  urge  on,  when  lo ! 
The  fort  forsaken  falls  a  prey, 
And  Schuyler's  troops  are  miles  away. 


2  8  W A  SUING  TON. 


Ill 


Pathetic  tales  now  roused  all  hearts " 

That  dwelt  amid  those  Northern  parts ; 

For,  ere  the  enemy  had  gained 

The  fort,  one  urged  by  love  that  reigned 

Within  her  breast  toward  soldier  brave 

In  Britain's  n earing  warrior  wave, 

To  whom  affiance  linked  her  all, 

Protected,  as  she  thought,  from  fall 

Of  danger  or  of  death  by  guard 

Of  Indians  twain  and  reward 

For  guidance  safe  to  them  assured, 

Fell  'neath  their  blow  in  quarrel  lured 

By  greed  of  gain  that  scorned  her  life 

As  prey  to  their  accursed  strife. 

This  cruel  deed  Burgoyne  condoned, 

While  shuddering  freemen,  hearing,  groaned, 

And  sprang  to  arms  against  the  beasts 

Of  nature,  loosened  for  such  feasts 

Inhuman  on  the  confiding  fair, 

And  wasted  soldier  ranks  repair. 

Herkimer  falls ;  but,  Northward  sped4 

By  stout  resistance  and  the  tread 

Of  Arnold's  coming,  wise  St.  Leger 

Left  the  Fort  he  would  beleaguer 

In  Mohawk's  verdant  valley  placed ; 

Toward  Canada  his  steps  retraced. 


THE  THREE  FORTS.  2$ 


Nor  Baum  nor  Breyman  Eastward  sent B 

To  Bennington  could  circumvent 

The  honest  hearts  of  free  Vermont, 

With  Stark  and  Warner  at  the  front 

To  keep  the  hungry  foe  from  stores 

Of  needed  food.     The  forest  pours 

Around  the  fated  host  a  shower 

Of  warriors  drawn  as  clouds  that  lower 

By  furious  wind  of  rage  provoked 

By  arrant  cruelty  uncloaked. 

From  Washington  detachments  came 

To  strengthen  Schuyler  in  the  name 

Of  freedom — victim  to  the  blame 

Of  spiritless  delay  and  fame 

Of  sloth  and  fear,  unwarlike,  tame. 

Horatio  Gates,  in  England  born,6 

Aid  to  Monkton,  by  bullet  torn 

When  at  Monongahela 

He  fought,  next  in  Virginia 

A  planter,  chosen  brigadier 

By  Congress,  when  the  strife  was  near, 

Was  voted  to  command  the  host, 

And  check  the  march  of  Burgoyne's  boast. 

IV 

Nor  idle  were  the  enemy 
Amassed  in  cities  by  the  sea. 


3O  WASHINGTON. 


For,  while  Burgoyne  marched  from  above, 

The  Howes  the  Southern  sea-board  rove7 

To  land  on  shore  of  Chesapeake, 

And,  hurtling  upward,  shrewdly  seek 

To  crush  the  force  with  Washington. 

Manhattan's  isle  harbored  Clinton 

And  his  men,  whom  strategy 

Would  carry  up  the  stream  to  see 

The  wondrous  Highland  fastnesses, 

Accumulated  vastnesses, 

Fortified,  with  Putnam  as  chief, 

Withstanding  the  coming  relief, 

As  Autumn's  colors  touched  the  scene. 

Far  different  it  might  have  been, 

Had  Clinton  earlier  moved  his  force, 

And  stormed  the  Highlands  in  his  course, 

Gained  Albany  in  time  to  join 

The  famished  soldiers  of  Burgoyne, 

And  checkmate  Schuyler  in  his  game, 

Or  Gates,  who  won  the  laurel's  fame. 

Fell  sloth  and  discord,  jealous  strife, 

How  ye  have  checkered  mortal  life! 

Yet  overruled  may  evil  be 

To  help  the  right  so  wondrously, 

That  hushed  are  watching  human  hearts, 

And  dried  the  tear  that  welling  starts, 

For  life  is  born,  when  dying  parts. 


THE  THREE  FORTS.  3! 


V. 


Leaving  New  York,  as  Autumn  came,8 

Sir  Henry  Clinton,  searching  fame, 

Weighed  anchor  on  his  men  of  war, 

The  Preston,  Mercury,  Tartar, 

And  galleys  armed  and  transports  filled 

With  four  thousand  British  troops  skilled 

In  fight,  and  for  the  conflict  drilled. 

Soon  Fort  Lee's  lofty  guns  they  passed, 

And  on  the  right  in  foliage  massed 

The  conquered  Fort  of  Washington. 

The  towering  Palisades  of  stone 

Long  Westward  on  their  voyage  frowned, 

By  Nature's  wondrous  beauty  crowned 

In  Tappan's  Zee,  with  Eastern  shore 

For  Sleepy  Hollow  famed  before 

Their  day.     By  Senasyna  seemed 

The  river  ended,  as  the  Point,  now  deemed 

South  Teller's  better  named,  was  called. 

Nor  yet  from  progress  were  they  walled, 

But  outlet  led  them  to  the  bay 

Of  Haverstraw,  in  former  day 

Kumackenack  the  Red  Men  say. 

On  Western  shore,  and  skyward  thrown, 

High  Torn's  lone  height,  to  travellers  known, 

O'erlooked  the  league  of  waters  gray 

And  far  to  Grassy  Point  away, 


32  WASHINGTON. 


With  Montrose  Point  on  Eastern  side, 
And,  farther  North,  the  river  wide 
Verplank  and  Stony  Points  divide. 

VI 

Now  Dunderberg,  for  thunder  named, 
And  storms  of  summer  uproar  famed, 
Stood  massive,  high,  with  threat  sublime 
Of  tempest  in  fair  freedom's  clime. 
They  say,  A  goblin  with  a  hat 
Like  sugar  loaf  on  Dunder  sat, 
With  crew  of  imps  like  evil  self, 
Whose  somersaults  threw  storms  as  pelf 
Of  clouds  and  lightnings,  rain  and  wind, 
On  hapless  skippers  whom  they  find 
Afloat.     The  goblin  hat  't  was  said, 
On  mast-head  fallen,  a  sloop  has  led 
On  cloudy  whirl  from  Newburgh  bay 
To  Dunderberg  ten  miles  away ; 
And  Goblin's  .self  on  bowsprit  seat 
Of  other  sloop  that,  sailing  fleet, 
He  headed  for  the  shore,  was  flung 
Away  by  sacred  hymn,  but  hung 
On  steeple  of  Esopus'  church 
Of  the  divine,  who  from  his  perch 
Had  him  expelled,  the  nightly  cap 
That  graced  the  dominie's  wifely  nap. 


THE  THREE  FORTS.  33 


The  next  Sunday  the  people  saw 

The  strange  adornment  filled  with  awe. 

Where  to  the  river  sinks  the  mount 

The  name  for  Kidd  we  may  recount  * 

Has  been  assigned,  and  in  the  stream 

Men  hunt  the  waters  in  a  dream 

Of  untold  wealth  in  vessel  lost 

By  pirate  who  these  billows  crossed. 

VII 

Northward  of  Dunderberg  arose  10 

The  sombre  shade  which  Bear  Hill  throws 

Across  the  scene,  with  Doodletown 

Between,  above  the  stream's  fair  crown 

Of  islands  for  lona  named 

And  Scotland's  monk  Columba  famed. 

West  Hill,  Black  Mount  are  found  at  hand, 

And  Northward  farther  up  the  land 

Long  and  Summer  Mountains  stand. 

Above  the  Ursine  hill  descends 

To  river  fleet  the  stream  which  blends 

Townships  and  counties  at  its  mouth, 

Poplopen's  Kill,  and  to  the  South 

An  oval  mirror  lies,  we  think, 

In  mountain  wood,  Lake  Sinnipink. 

The  gore  of  strife  that  stained  its  face 

The  Indian  word  served  to  erase, 


34  WASHINGTON. 


And  Bloody  Pond  preserved  the  trace 
Of  white  men's  rage,  till  moderns  grace 
The  scene  with  peaceful  thought  and  name, 
And  Highland  Lake  the  Pond  became. 

VIII 

The  Spring  of  Seventy-six  beheld 
The  work  of  Romans  end,  trees  felled, 
The  stone  and  earthern  ramparts  raised 
On  either  side  of  creek,  and  praised 
With  names  of  valiant  men  and  great, 
Montgomery,  who  loved  the  state 
Better  than  life,  and  Clinton,  known  " 
In  politics  and  famous  grown 
In  war.      'T  was  Machin  who  the  forts" 
Completed,  freedom's  twain  resorts, 
Montgomery  for  eight  hundred, 
And  Clinton  for  those  that  numbered 
Half  as  many.     Across  the  stream 
The  next  year's  Autumn  color  dream 
Waved  round  the  finished  boom  and  chain 
That  stretched  its  strong  and  costly  rein 
From  Northern  fort  to  Eastern  shore, 
Where  Anthony's  nose  was  cut  of  yore. 
Another  chain  above  was  placed, 
Where  Pollopel's  isle  the  river  graced,18 
And  in  the  Spring,  the  year  before, 


THE  THREE   FORTS.  35 


Fort  Washington  to  Jersey  shore 
Was  linked  by  bands  of  idle  strength, 
For  Britain  gained  the  forts  at  length. 
Two  frigates,  two  galleys,  a  sloop, 
All  armed,  a  little  navy,  group 
Themselves  above  Poplopen's  boom, 
Unconscious  of  their  awful  doom. 
With  fifteen  hundred  Putnam  lay 
At  Peekskill  town  across  the  bay, 
And  in  the  forts  the  Clintons  stood 
With  six  hundred  men  from  the  wood 
And  farms  of  Duchess,  Ulster,  good 
To  marshal  patriot  soldier  blood. 

IX 

We  sing  of  Putnam,  him  whose  name 

Our  county  bears,  who  hither  came 

To  watch  and  strive  for  liberty. 

The  honor  of  his  nativity  u 

By  Eastern  Salem  town  is  claimed 

Ere  the  last  century  had  named 

A  score  of  years.     Israel,  famed 

In  sacred  story,  was  he  called, 

A  fearless  wrestler,  one  who  walled 

The  murderous  she-wolf  in  her  cave, 

And,  entering,  torch-lit,  death-shot  gave, 

While  anxious  friends  without  await 


36  WA  SUING  TON. 


The  hero  to  congratulate. 

In  Gallic  war  a  major  made, 

Fort  Edward's  powder  house  he  saved, 

When  fire  endangered  all  the  post ; 

And  when  before  the  Indian  host 

He  steered  his  craft  o'er  Hudson's  falls, 

Saving  his  men  from  savage  balls, 

The  Great  Spirit's  beloved  he  seemed. 

Nor  then  of  slothful  ease  he  dreamed 

As  Lexington  awoke  the  land, 

But  plough  and  oxen  left  to  stand, 

While,  mounting  horse,  he  rode  away 

To  Boston  in  a  single  day, 

A  journey  three-score  miles  and  ten. 

The  British  lures  he  scorned,  and  men 

He  led  to  Bunker  Hill,  and  fought 

Till  victory  seemed  too  dearly  bought 

By  foes  who  gained  the  heights  they  sought. 

A  general  made,  these  hills  his  care, 

With  weakened  force  he  stood,  aware 

The  enemy  were  speeding  fast 

Along  the  stream,  and  anchor  cast 

At  Tarrytown,  thousands  to  land, 

Revealing  their  deceitful  hand, 

As  though  Peekskill  and  Fishkill  North 

Were  prey  for  which  they  issue  forth. 

At  Verplanck's  Point,  on  Sabbath  morn, 

October  fifth,  the  foe  are  borne 


THE  THREE  FORTS.  37 


Nearer  ashore,  three  thousand  strong, 

While  prudent  Putnam,  thinking  wrong, 

To  Continental  Village  drew 

His  men ;  and  tidings  Westward  flew 

Across  the  river  to  the  forts, 

While  Clinton  brave  the  hope  supports 

That  Putnam  on  the  Eastern  shore 

Will  hear  and  send  relief  before 

The  dread  event  of  war  shall  come, 

And  blood  shall  drench  the  Highland  home. 


X 


Faithful  to  Charles,  the  Clinton  fled  " 

To  Ireland  green,  whose  grandson  sped 

Over  Atlantic's  restless  waves 

In  chartered  ship,  and  Cape  Cod  saves 

His  friends  from  mutiny  and  death. 

In  Ulster  County  Discord's  breath 

His  sons,  both  James  and  George,  aroused  " 

In  war  engaged,  by  safety  housed, 

'Gainst  Frontenac  in  Canada. 

Their  father  dead,  these  twain  the  war 

For  freedom  animates  to  deed 

Of  statesmanship  and  valor's  breed 

Of  suffering  and  steadfastness. 

James  with  Montgomery  distress 

Of  Northern  Wintry  loss  had  borne, 


38  WASHINGTON. 


And  George  in  Congress,  from  state  torn 
With  popular  and  royal  feud, 
Breathing  the  common  fortitude, 
For  independence  cast  his  vote. 
Generals  both,  and  men  of  note, 
The  twain  command  the  Highland  gate, 
James  at  Southern  Fort  Clinton  sate, 
And  George,  the  governor  of  the  state, 
At  Northern  Fort  Montgomery, 
Awaiting  vengeance  summary. 
Six  hundred  men  of  patriot  brawn, 
From  Ulster  and  Duchess  drawn, 
Around  their  captains  ready  lay 
To  check  the  adversary's  way. 
A  regiment  with  Allison 
From  Goshen,  and  from  Cornwall  one 
Under  Du  Bois;  from  New  Windsor 
McClaughry  led  on  another, 
With  Master  over  Newburgh's  braves, 
And  o'er  the  Continentals  waves 
Du  Bois'  sabre,  while  threatening  near 
The  artillery  of  Lamb  appear 
Among  other  battalions  three 
By  chieftains  led  for  liberty- 
Six  hundred  'gainst  two  thousand  matched, 
Who  bloodily  the  victory  snatched. 
The  chain  and  boom  the  river  block, 
And  vessels  ready  wait  the  shock 


THE  THREE  FORTS.  39 


Of  war  afloat,  while  landward  rise 
The  mountains,  where  Nature  defies 
The  foemen  in  their  enterprise. 

XI 

Sir  Henry  Clinton,  the  grandson  " 
Of  old  Lincoln's  Earl,  with  Tryon 
And  Vaughan,  generals,  and  force, 
Two  thousand  strong,  o'er  river's  course 
To  Western  Stony  Point  was  borne 
At  daybreak  on  October's  morn 
The  sixth,  while  foggy  clouds  conceal 
The  ruddy  coats  and  gleaming  steel. 
By  nine  o'clock  brave  Logan  bears  18 
The  message  to  the  forts,  while  fares 
The  army  over  Thunder's  Hill 
In  single  file,  while  frigates  fill 
The  waters  at  its  frowning  base, 
Ready  to  sail  up  the  Horse  Race." 
At  Doodletown  on  Northern  face 
Of  Dunderberg  the  scouts  are  met 
By  Jackson  led,  and,  later  yet, 
Bruyn  and  McClaughry,  driven  back 
Before  the  foe.     On  Westward  track 
Campbell's  nine  hundred  round  Bear  Hill 
Advance,  while  Clinton's  men  are  still 
Waiting  at  Doodletown  the  hour ao 


4O  WA  SHING  TON. 


To  march  on  Bruyn  and  meet  the  power 
Sent  from  the  forts  to  be  o'ercome. 
The  sun  is  waning  toward  his  home, 
When  up  the  pass  the  British  swarm 
'Mid  fire  deadly,  close  and  warm 
From  abatis  that  casts  its  flank 
'Twixt  Sinnipink  and  river  bank. 
Bruyn  and  McClaughry  back  are  thrown 
In  slaughter,  Fenno  prisoner  made, 
And  Sinnipink  its  depth  displayed, 
A  watery  grave  for  patriot  dead, 
Tossed  there  to  stain  the  surface  red. 
Clinton's  o'ercoming  force  consists 
Of  chasseurs,  New  York  loyalists, 
And  regiments,  fifty  second 
And  fifty  seventh,  vet'rans  reckoned. 

XII 

'T  was  four  o'clock,  when  round  Bear  Hill 

Campbell's  column  toiled  to  fill21 

The  space  before  the  upper  fort, 

And  send  a  flag  with  message  short 

Of  summons  to  surrender  all, 

Ere  five  minutes  pass,  else  will  fall 

War's  hailstones  with  destruction's  rain. 

But  with  prompt  answer  of  disdain 

Rode  Livingston  the  flag  to  meet, aa 


THE  THREE  FORTS.  41 


And  spake  a  word  the  foe  to  greet, 

If  ye  surrender  up  your  cause, 
Good  treatment  by  our  code  of  laws 
Shall  be  your  fate,"  and  then  withdraws. 
Then  on  them  opes  the  triple  fire, 
For  Hotham  led  his  frigates  nigher," 
The  Preston,  Mercury,  Tartar, 
Hurling  combustion  in  the  war 
Of  shipping  on  the  peaceful  stream. 
With  fury  swords  and  bayonets  gleam 
Around  the  forts,  assailed  with  shout, 
Portentous  of  a  bloody  rout. 
Grabowski,  Poland's  Count,  will  lead24 
With  Rawdon,  England's  Lord,  and  speed 
The  Grenadiers  'gainst  Northern  fort, 
While  on  the  South  the  vet'rans  court 
Mortality  from  Clinton's  guns. 
Volley  on  volley  dreadful  runs 
O'er  ramparts  on  the  charging  host 
To  tame  the  raging  of  their  boast, 
And  thin  their  ranks  by  havoc  torn. 
Montgomery's  bulwarks,  now  forlorn, 
Were  heaped  with  slain,  and  with  them  lay 
Grabowski,  fallen  in  the  fray, 
With  dying  gift  to  Rawdon's  Lord,36 
A  soldier's  death,  a  soldier's  sword. 


42  WASHINGTON. 


XIII 

O  where  was  Israel  Putnam, 
Whose  soldiers  might  have  served  to  dam 
The  torrent  of  the  surging  steel 
Against  those  shores,  and  to  reveal 
Victorious  hardihood  supreme? 
Early  the  tidings  of  the  gleam 
Of  hostile  bayonets  flew  to  him ; 
But  at  mid-day  the  forests  grim 
On  Eastern  bank  no  voice  returned 
Of  help  assured  to  those  concerned 
In  waiting  for  the  bloody  fray. 
At  Continental  village  lay  ™ 
Israel's  men,  until  the  news 
Of  Western  conflict  come  imbues 
Their  hearts  with  ardor  to  assist. 
O'er  hills  a  winding  way  they  twist 
Through  shading  woods,  till  on  the  shore 
They  stand,  as  twilight  falls  before 
Their  eyes  to  veil  the  dreadful  scene 
Across  the  stream,  which  rolls  between 
The  combat  and  their  willing  feet. 
They  may  not  pass,  nor  render  meet 
Assistance  to  comrades  o'erthrown. 
Five  hundred  gaze  on  waters  strown 
With  havoc  of  the  war,  and  hills, 
Where  smoky  cloud  the  heaven  fills, 
And  patriot  heart  with  sorrow  thrills. 


THE  THREE  FORTS.  43 


XIV 

Like  lions  tawny,  staunch,  at  bay 
The  Clintons  stood,  nor  would  give  way. 
Their  banners  waved,  the  cannon  crashed, 
The  volleys  yelled,  the  sabres  flashed ; 
And  red  coats  fell,  yet  swarmed  around 
Like  bees  innumerable,  found' 
Entrance  o'er  the  blood-strewn  mound, 
And  over  ramparts,  shouting,  bound. 
Like  waves  that  fall  upon  the  shore, 
Are  backward  hurled,  advance  once  more, 
And,  spurned  again,  return,  to  charge 
The  sands  they  undermine  with  large, 
Uproarious,  spray  of  spreading  power, 
So  dashed  the  crest  in  evening  hour 
Of  Britain's  warriors  'gainst  the  strands 
Of  patriot,  hero,  rural  bands. 
Two  mortal  hours  they  firm  withstand 
In  sturdy  conflict  for  the  land 
The  flower  of  England's  fortitude, 
Till  o'er  the  scene,  destruction-strewed, 
Twilight  descends  with  dusk  bedewed. 
But,  as  o'er  Clinton's  ramparts  rushed 
The  maddened  host  with  victory  flushed, 
Pitcher  his  loaded  gun  forsakes, 
Port-fire  drops,  to  his  heels  betakes; 
But  Molly  his  wife,  brave  and  true," 


44  WASHINGTON. 


The  use  of  the  port-fire  aptly  knew, 

And,  stooping,  picked  it  from  the  ground ; 

The  breech  she  touched,  and  loud  the  sound 

Of  this  last  gun  against  the  foe, 

While  Molly  scampers  off  to  go 

With  Pitcher  on  the  ebbing  tide 

Or  in  the  darkling  mountain-side. 

XV 

Noble  six  hundred!     Half  are  dead,28 
Or  prisoners  made  !     The  rest  have  fled ! 
The  chieftains  with  their  men  remained, 
And  Allison  captive  is  detained,28 
Livingston,  McClaughry,  DuBois, 
Logan,  Hamilton,  Bruyn,  whose  voice 
Of  praise  for  valor  passes  not, 
Nor  shall  their  comrades  be  forgot. 
Many  of  deadly  wounds  expired, 
Or  cruelty  their  lives  required 
In  prison  of  the  Sugar  House30 
In  New  York  placed,  a  bitter  souse 
Of  sweetness  from  a  right  divine, 
A  bon-bon  from  a  king  benign! 
Nor  them  who  bravely  fell  in  fight 
They  buried,  as  was  Nature's  right, 
But  left  to  rot,  or  careless  toss 
In  Sinnipink,  a  horrid  floss 


THE  THREE  FORTS.  45 


Of  war  upon  the  weary  earth, 
Torn  with  passions  of  lowest  birth. 
So  men  possessed  by  evil  force, 
Their  own  worst  foes,  career  their  course 
Of  suffering,  while  from  it  flows 
Experience  ;  and  he  who  knows 
To  scan  aright  may  bless  the  stars 
That  shine  in  heaven  after  wars. 

XVI 

In  sorrow  at  the  horrid  scene 
And  loss,  where  victory  might  have  been, 
Nature,  for  freedom  mourning  deep, 
Invents  a  veil  o'er  stars  that  weep. 
A  darkness  fell  upon  the  ground, 
As  Clinton  with  his  braves  was  found, 
Contesting  still,  striving  his  way 
To  cut  amid  the  foes'  array. 
Upon  the  river's  neighboring  shore 
A  small  boat  loitered  near  the  roar 
Of  dying  conflict.     James  would  save  S1 
His  brother  George  across  the  wave. 
'  Brother,  behold !  the  boat  is  here. 
Escape  to  the  other  side  from  fear, 
To  Putnam  and  his  sturdy  braves! 
Thy  safety  all  the  country  craves, 
For  New  York's  governor  thou  art, 


46  WASHINGTON. 


And  thou  must  fire  the  people's  heart 

For  liberty !     Nor  think  of  me  : 

I  will  elude  the  enemy." 

But  George  m  love  fraternal  cried, 

"  O  James,  depart  not  from  my  side! 

I  will  not  leave  thee  in  this  plight, 

Nor  shall  I  go,  unless  my  flight 

By  thee  be  joined,  and  with  this  night, 

As  through  the  day,  our  fates  unite." 

Like  Jonathan  and  David's  bond, 

Achilles  of  Patroclus  fond, 

Like  Darnon  loved  of  Pythias, 

Or  Scipio  and  Laelius, 

These  brothers  born,  and  friends  as  well, 

Contending,  cast  this  hallowed  spell 

Of  purest  love  around  the  dell. 

It  might  not  be;  and  James  perforce 

His  brother  sent  upon  his  course 

By  pushing  off  the  boat  from  land, 

While,  springing  on  a  steed  at  hand, 

He  galloped  through  the  gathering  gloom. 

A  bridge  he  meets  in  ruddy  bloom 

Of  British  soldiers,  whom  he  bade 

Make  way  for  him,  and  spurs  he  played 

Through  bayonets  bright  to  penetrate, 

But  not  without  the  thrust  of  hate, 

For  stabbing  steel  must  pierce  his  thigh. 

He  leaves  his  horse,  to  forest  nigh 


THE  THREE  FORTS.  47 


Rushes  with  bridle  in  his  grasp, 
Slides  down  a  ledge  of  rocks  that  rasp, 
A  precipice  in  the  ravine, 
Poplopen's  Creek,  that  lies  between 
The  famous  forts.     Into  the  stream 
He  slipping  falls.     The  waters  seem 
To  staunch  the  oozing  blood  that  night, 
As  on  the  summit  he  rests  till  light 
Dawns  on  his  pains  and  brings  a  horse 
For  him  bareback  to  ride,  and  force 
His  anguished  way  through  sixteen  miles. 
Fevered,  husky,  with  scarlet  smiles 
Of  war  upon  his  garb,  he  greets 
The  first  house  that  his  journey  meets, 
Generous  and  great  in  fortitude 
And  monumental  hardihood. 

XVII 

Unpropitious  upon  the  deep 

Blew  Boreas  a  breeze  to  keep 

The  patriot  navy  round  the  boom 

With  sails  all  spread,  nor  from  the  gloom 

Of  awful  overthrow  secure. 

For,  when  our  countrymen  were  sure 

The  fight  was  lost,  they  fired  the  group 

Of  frigates,  galleys,  and  the  sloop. 

Hodge  the  Montgomery  kindled 


48  WASHINGTON. 


To  flames,  and,  when  the  hope  dwindled 

That  the  Congress  would  make  her  way, 

And  grounded  on  the  flat  she  lay 

By  Constitution  Isle,  the  light 

To  her  was  put ;  and  now  the  sight 

Most  wonderful  gave  day  for  night. 

In  scorching  pyramids  of  flame 

The  vessels  floated,  and  there  came 

A  ruddy  glow  that  overspread 

The  stream  around,  while  overhead 

The  hills,  where  fugitives  had  fled, 

Illumined,  beckoned  to  escape. 

Cannon  loaded  with  ball  or  grape 

Upon  the  decks  were  booming  loud, 

And  powder  rolled  its  warlike  shroud 

Across  the  waters,  and  the  crowd 

Of  mountains,  like  a  howling  pack, 

A  thousand  echoes  thundered  back. 

Then,  when  destruction  ceased  her  shout, 

And  ruddy  flames  had  all  died  out, 

A  silent  gloom  appalled  the  scene, 

And  peace  was  known  where  strife  had  been.5 

XVIII 

The  morning  dawned,  and  Mott  forsook33 
Fort  Constitution.     Tryon  took 
The  isle,  and  all  the  works  destroyed 


THE  THREE  FORTS.  49 


The  second  day,  the  land  annoyed, 

And  Continental  village  burned  " 

With  barracks,  which  we  whilom  learned 

Stood  in  the  orchard  'twixt  Cat  Hill 

And  Huckleberry,  near  the  rill 

To  left  of  Sprout  Brook,  and  ruins  fill 

The  towering  sides  about  the  pass 

Of  breastworks,  grown  with  trees  and  grass. 

Rumor  abroad  the  tidings  spread 

Of  victory  for  the  English  red, 

And  terror  fell  with  sorrow  bred. 

Upon  the  river  point  called  Gee's 

Aunt  Sally  dwelt  with  all  the  teas 

Remaining  hers,  but  half  a  pound ; 

And  when  the  rumors  foul  confound 

The  patriot-hearts  with  forts  that  fell, 

Aunt  Sally  knows  alas !  too  well 

For  further  tea  this  sounds  the  knell. 

Determined  none  shall  reach  their  hand 

Who  come  to  ravage  all  the  land, 

The  whole  half  pound — and  't  is  her  all — 

Must  in  the  tea  pot  quickly  fall ; 

And,  in  her  terror  almost  daft, 

She  made  her  tea  a  bitter  draught. 

But  all  who  heard  were  very  merry 

Over  the  news  from  Nelson's  Ferry," 

And,  laughing  for  Aunt  Sally  Gee, 

Wondered  how  she  enjoyed  her  tea. 


5O  WASHINGTON. 


XIX 

Sir  Henry  up  the  river  sped. 

Shells  over  Fishkill  Landing  fled 

From  British  cannon  as  they  passed. 

Mansions  were  burned,  and  lands  harassed. 

Kingston  they  reached  and  ashes  made, 

But  here  their  hopes  were  dashed  and  laid, 

For  word  descended  from  Burgoyne's  host 

That  low  was  crushed  their  haughty  boast ; 

Stilhvater,  Saratoga  slew 

Their  hopes,  and  sad  surrender  drew 

The  conflict  to  its  destined  end. 

At  Schuylerville  Burgoyne  must  tend 

His  sword  to  Gates  by  Hudson's  stream,88 

And  with  the  passing  of  his  dream — 

Perhaps  before  him  there  may  seem 

To  rise  a  spectre  young  and  fair, 

With  severed  scalp  and  bleeding  hair, 

And  in  events  one  seems  to  say, 

"  The  Lord  avenged  me,  Jane  McCrea. " 

XX 

Down  sails  Sir  Henry  from  the  North, 
And  vain  the  task  he  sallied  forth 
To  leave  a  monument  of  fame, 
And  glory  turns  to  fading  shame. 


THE  THREE  FORTS.  5 1 


The  Governor  and  Putnam  attend  37 

His  wanderings  till  they  quickly  end 

In  city  by  the  roaring  sea. 

Another  tale  in  history  39 

We  might  have  read  but  for  delay 

On  ocean's  wave  upon  their  way 

Across  the  main  in  Holland  ships 

Of  troops  that  Clinton  in  his  trips 

Led  forth  to  war.     A  hundred  days 

The  tardy  breeze  the  army  stays ; 

And  when  October  bids  them  roam, 

Too  late  to  help  Burgoyne  they  come. 

The  great  events  of  life  are  seen 

To  be  arranged  behind  the  scene. 

Though  forts  may  fall,  and  booms  may  snap, 

And  shrewdest  generals  take  a  nap, 

They  cannot  bring  the  favoring  breeze, 

Nor  circumvent  divine  decrees. 


CANTO   THIRD 

STONY  POINT 

I 

FOUR  seasons  in  the  circle  blend 
Of  yearly  beauty ;  speeding,  send 
Their  charm  of  casing  round  the  soul 
Of  things  united  in  the  whole 
Of  universal  thought  secure. 
Winter,  with  her  snow-mantle  pure, 
Conceals  a  waiting  life  from  death, 
Ready  to  rise  at  vernal  breath, 
Vigorous,  diverse,  and  beautiful. 
She  slays  and  hides,  but  dutiful 
In  universal  thought  conserves 
A  life  renewed,  and  hope  preserves. 
So  Winter  joins  the  old  and  new, 
A  larger  where  a  smaller  grew. 
Three  forts  a  passing  victory  brought, 
Eventual  in  disaster  fraught. 
52 


STONY  POINT.  53 


The  Autumn  of  success  must  close, 
And  Winter  to  her  gloom  dispose. 
Seventy-five  like  Spring  had  seemed, 
And  seventy-six  a  Summer  gleamed, 
And  seventy-seven  Autumn  deemed 
In  fruitage  of  a  rich  success. 
Seventy-eight  the  three  confess 
Winter  sister  with  snowy  tress. 


II 


October's  foliaged  robe  was  thrown 
Around  the  waning  year  now  grown 
Great  with  success,  when  Donop  led ' 
His  Hessian  braves  with  hardy  tread 
Against  Fort  Mercer  at  Red  Bank. 
With  slaughter  mown  the  soldiers  sank 
To  earth,  Count  Donop  yielded  life, 
And  vessels  twain  that  joined  the  strife 
Upon  the  Delaware  lay  fast 
Upon  the  ground,  victims  at  last 
To  red-hot  shot  the  patriots  cast 
To  burn  and  blow  them  up  in  vast 
Destruction,  sorry  and  aghast. 
Fort  Mifflin  opposite  remained 
Until  November,  when  were  trained 
Five  hostile  batteries  at  hand 
Upon  its  works  upon  Mud  Island. 


54  WASHINGTON. 


Five  men  of  war  their  cannon  played 
On  fort  and  wave,  and  six  days  brayed 
Their  warlike  yells,  while  undismayed 
The  patriots  stood,  nor  flight  essayed, 
Until  the  siege  at  end  they  knew, 
When  Thayer  and  Fleury  safe  withdrew 
To  other  shore,  and  famous  grew. 


Ill 


December  brought  the  soldiers  forth 
To  Washington  from  the  army  north ; 
And  strong  encamped  they  steadfast  lay, 
While  Howe  his  warriors'  proud  array 
Against  them  marched,  but  prudent  grew, 
And  to  the  city  back  withdrew, 
To  spend  the  Winter  in  pleasure, 
Games,  plays,  and  balls  without  measure. 
From  Philadelphia  twenty  miles, 
Where  the  East  Valley  Creek  beguiles 
The  traveller's  eye,  and  joins  its  stream 
To  Schuylkill's  flood,  and  forests  seem 
To  fill  a  vale  betwixt  the  hills, 
Where  early  stood  of  rolling  mills 
One  of  our  first,  the  Valley  Forge — " 
Burnt  by  the  soldiers  of  King  George — 
The  patriot  army  fell  the  trees 
And  make  them  huts.     A  fort  one  sees, 


STONY  POINT.  55 


And  works  around  are  quickly  thrown, 
A  village  and  a  fortress  grown. 
There  cold  and  hunger  they  endure 
And  scarcity  of  pay,  but  sure 
Of  suffering  and  death ;  and  plots 
Are  woven  'gainst  the  chief,  and  spots 
Are  sought  in  his  integrity, 
Rebuked  by  his  sincerity. 


IV 


Nor  idle  sat  the  Congress  met 

The  general  affairs  to  set 

In  order  meet,  perpetual; 

But  articles  eventual 3 

Of  their  prolonged  and  wise  debate 

Declared  the  states  confederate, 

Republican  in  government, 

Extensive  with  the  continent. 

Union  perpetual  shall  be 

Between  the  states,  and  all  their  free 

Inhabitants  alike  in  rights. 

Congress  for  them  their  conflict  fights 

With  meagre  power  to  it  bestowed ; 

And  from  the  stinted  gift  there  flowed 

In  events  manifest  weakness. 

The  legislatures  acquiesce, 

The  delegates  the  act  approve, 


5  6  WA  SUING  TON. 


Acknowledging  the  Hand  of  love 
That  ruleth  all,  and  hearts  inclines, 
And  nations  to  their  place  assigns. 


V 


Abroad  the  heart  of  France  was  fired  * 

To  give  the  hand  of  help  desired 

Of  money,  ships,  and  men  allied 

For  independence  to  our  side, 

Stirred  up  by  recollected  woes 

Of  Canada,  and  loss  that  grows 

Bitter  with  lapse  of  proving  time, 

And  strikes  a  blow  at  hoary  crime. 

D'Estaing,  De  Grasse,  and  Rochambeau, 

With  Gallia's  power,  sailing  go 

Across  Atlantic's  deep,  and  set 

Their  flags  and  names  with  La  Fayette, 

To  win  their  deathless  coronet 

Of  happy  praise ;  and  here  they  met 

Those  warming  beams  from  Freedom's  sun 

That,  home  across  the  water  run 

With  their  returning  host,  should  see 

The  tottering  of  tyranny, 

With  rapid  rise  of  liberty, 

Fraternity,  equality. 

Upon  our  shore  they  recent  placed  * 

A  lofty  imaged  goddess,  graced 


STONY  POINT.  57 


With  diadem  of  lights,  and  faced 
The  coming  of  the  ships  that  paced 
The  waters  of  the  main  with  rays 
Of  heaven  seeking,  for  it  pays 
A  glowing  tribute  to  the  past 
Of  fruitages  that  ever  last. 

VI 

One  hundred  and  eleven  years  ' 

This  day  Clinton  marched  'mid  the  tears 

Of  Philadelphia's  loyal  hearts 

Northward.     A  month  ere  Howe  departs 

With  gallant  pageantry  afloat 

And  on  the  shore  the  army  note 

His  going  and  their  fond  esteem. 

'T  was  not  a  fortnight  since  the  dream T 

Of  French  alliance  realized 

Had  roused  the  patriot  camp  apprised 

Or  freedom's  fortune  in  huzza. 

And  salvos  for  their  friends  in  war. 

No  entrance  weak  had  once  been  forced 

Within  their  lines,  as  winter  coursed 

Its  dreary,  bitter,  hungry  flight. 

Nor,  when  the  foe  his  hastening  plight 

Revealed,  rested  they  in  their  peace, 

But  speeding  harried  him,  nor  cease 

They  for  the  rays  of  solstice  sun. 


5  8  WA  SUING  TON. 


Overtures  from  the  king  begun 

They  promptly  scorned,  and  Monmouth  hears 

The  negative  for  lasting  years 

Sealed  with  fresh  blood  and  cries  and  tears 

And  love  of  country,  braving  fears. 

VII 

A  snake  with  rattles  twelve  miles  long, 

The  British  army,  thousands  strong, 

Reached  Allentown ;  by  noise  in  front 

Of  opposition  scared,  the  brunt 

Of  battle  they  avoid,  and,  borne 

Toward  Monmouth,  on  a  Sabbath  morn  * 

Await  the  onset  of  the  foe. 

Retreat  brings  on  the  patriots  woe, 

Till  Washington  disorder  checks, 

And  Wayne's  brigade  brave  Monckton  wrecks 

In  deadly  loss.     The  night  descends, 

And  sleep  brings  peace,  but  Clinton  wends 

His  way  to  Sandy  Hook,  and  ends 

His  journey,  by  the  city  housed, 

Slow  'gainst  his  foe  to  be  aroused. 

But  ere  he  finished  Sunday's  fight, 

He  touched  a  link  that  joins  us  quite  9 

In  Highland  hills  with  Jersey  coast, 

For  Pitcher  of  the  warlike  host 

That  manned  Fort  Clinton  on  that  day 


STONY  POINT.  59 


Of  memorable  affray, 

Of  which  we  've  sung,  fell  by  his  gun, 

As  Molly  brought  water  on  the  run 

From  neighboring  spring  to  quench  his  thirst. 

Then  she  takes  his  place  with  the  first 

In  danger  and  the  conflict  hot, 

And  Greene  to  Washington  fails  not 

To  bring  and  praise  her  bravery, 

And  she  gets  half-pay  from  slavery 

Of  poverty  her  days  to  free. 

VIII 

The  patriot  host  that  watched  and  fought 

Held  men  who,  absent  from  home,  sought 

Help  for  those  defenceless  left  behind; 

And  in  Wyoming's  vale  they  find  I0 

Destruction  swift  upon  them  crept 

By  Indian  stealth  and  fury  swept 

On  in  scorching  wave  by  Tories  led. 

July's  hot  day  brings  broad  bloodshed 

On  the  settlers,  a  treaty  spurned 

And  massacre,  their  houses  burned 

And  crops  to  desolation  turned. 

Here  pious  Zinzendorf  had  taught  " 

The  peaceful  gospel,  and  besought 

The  Redman  to  the  yoke  of  love ; 

And  here,  where  fruits  and  slaughter  throve, 


60  WASHINGTON. 


Poetic  Campbell's  Spenser  verse  1Q 

May  tragic  scenes  of  old  rehearse 

In  Delaware's  large  plains  *  of  flame. 

Then  spread  Bellona's  torch  along, 

And  coastwise  leaped  destruction  strong 

In  death  and  plunder,  for  D'Estaing 

With  Gallic  fleet,  where  Newport  rang 

With  wave  crashed  crags,  repulsed  by  storm, 

Left  Gray's  command  abroad  to  form 

And  spread  mortality  and  loss 

In  Massachusetts,  and  the  toss 

Of  war  Savannah  overthrows  1S 

To  Britain's  power,  as  December  shows 

The  turning  of  the  year,  and  time  grows 

White,  yet  blushes  with  crimson  snows. 


IX 


Now  sheltered  lie  the  patriot  bands, 
While  winter  howls,  and  hostile  hands 
Are  waiting  for  their  enslavement. 
Three  brigades  to  Danbury  sent 
Rest  in  their  chosen  cantonment, 
While  Continental  village  holds 
Two  more,  and  one  the  camp  enfolds 
Near  by  at  famed  West  Point.      Below, 
Near  Haverstraw,  where  grow 

[*  In  Delaware  dialect  Wyoming  means  large  plains.] 


STONY  POINT.  6 1 


Most  wide  the  Hudson's  waves,  was  found 

Another,  whilst  the  ruddy  ground 

Of  Jersey  at  Elizabeth 

Doth  one  more  keep,  and  seven  houseth 

At  Middlebrook  by  Raritan. 

There  huts  of  logs  and  mud  a  man 

Might  see  in  streets  laid  out  that  ran 

By  rule  like  camp  of  canvas  tents. 

The  historic  record  represents 

At  Pluckemin  near  by  a  fete 

In  February,  where  the  great  u 

The  French  alliance  celebrate 

With  feast  and  ball  and  works  of  fire ; 

And  on  the  mountain  ridges  higher, 

Four  hundred  feet  above  the  plains, 

The  rock  of  Washington  remains, 

Where  erst  his  eye  the  scene  surveyed, 

And  watched  for  plans  of  war  displayed. 


X 


To-day  our  thirteen  states  have  grown 
To  forty-five,  and  more  will  own  1B 
In  time  our  banner  and  our  name; 
And  even  in  the  days  of  fame, 
Whereof  we  sing,  forth  flowed  the  tide 
Of  population  o'er  the  side 
Of  mountains  and  of  rivers  long 


62  WA  SUING  TON. 


To  smite  the  foreign  power  strong, 

And  claim  the  country  for  the  free. 

Brave  Clarke,  with  trusty  force,  we  see 

To  waters  of  the  Illinois 

And  Wabash  march,  and  know  the  joys 

Of  conquest  grown  imperial, 

Ere  in  the  yearly  serial 

July  had  ripened  well  her  crops. 

Nor  him  the  royal  governor  stops 

With  chosen  warriors  come  to  gain 

The  ground  once  lost,  with  lasting  stain 

Of  Indian  savages  in  arms. 

Around  Vincennes'  fort  Clarke  swarms18 

With  few  but  fearless  men  of  war, 

While  Hamilton  had  sent  afar 

His  savage  friends;  and,  as  the  moon 

Of  February,  aging  soon, 

Is  waning  to  its  end,  the  fort 

Is  ours,  and  swiftly  flies  report 

Of  conquest  and  of  safety  gained 

To  emigrants  that  home  remained 

Till  thus  assurance  of  life  deigned 

To  freedom  led  them  swarming  forth. 

Kentucky  grows,  and  all  the  north 

Above  Ohio's  banks  shall  swell 

The  empire  of  the  free,  and  quell 

The  savage  and  the  British  yell. 

Deep  gratitude  to  France  shall  fill 


STONY  POINT.  63 


The  breast,  whose  king  to  Louisville  " 

Shall  lend  the  name  we  call  it  still. 

O  great  northwest,  forever  free, 

A  harbinger  of  liberty 

To  our  domain  of  empire  states, 

In  thee  the  past  perpetuates, 

On  thee  the  heart  of  centuries  waits! 


XI 


Now  restless  shakes  the  mother  snake 
Her  rattles  in  New  York  to  make 
Excursions  of  her  winning  fangs 
Along  the  coast,  and  speechless  hangs 
The  country  on  such  wooing  strange 
To  bring  the  erring  home,  derange 
Their  plans,  and  lift  a  crown  again. 
In  Chesapeake  Bellona's  men  18 
Are  slipped  to  ravage  crops  and  homes, 
And  when  returned  the  army  comes 
To  Sandy  Hook,  northward  it  sails 
To  seize  the  points  of  war,  where  fails 
Not  time  their  names  to  keep  to-day, 
Verplanck's  and  Stony  called,  away 
But  thirteen  miles  from  us  who  stay  19 
Around  the  heart  of  freedom's  rest. 
At  Stony  Point  our  force  their  nest 
Of  war  abandon,  but  across 


64  WA  SUING  TON. 


The  stream  Verplanck's  inglorious  loss 

Our  'scutcheon  soils,  and  King's  Ferry 

Between  the  two  is  a  merry 

Gain  to  Clinton ;  and  sundered  falls 

The  lower  line  below  the  walls 

Of  Hudson  highlands  for  supplies — 

To  Washington  a  rude  surprise. 

XII 

On  bold  Connecticut  descends20 
Fierce  Tryon,  and  his  journey  ends 
New  Havenward,  to  burn  and  slay, 
Till  driven  to  his  ships  to  weigh 
Anchor,  and  on  loved  Fairfield  land 
His  Hessian  thieves,  while  homes  stand 
In  flames  to  fall,  and  children  weep. 
To  Norwalk  next  they  deftly  creep 
To  ply  the  torch,  and  all  but  go 
New  Londonward,  when  halt  we  know 
Was  called  by  Wayne  upon  the  bank 
Of  Hudson's  stream,  and  Tryon  shrank 
From  eastern  war,  and  quick  withdrew 
To  help  the  serpent,  struck  anew 
With  sorer  wound  and  nearer  home, 
Upon  the  head,  the  poison  dome. 


STONY  POINT.  65 


XIII 

Anthony  Wayne's  praise  we  sing,81 

Whose  grandsire  brave,  like  name  bearing, 

Left  old  Yorkshire  for  Ireland  near, 

And  fought  for  William  in  the  year 

Of  ninety-two  beside  the  Boyne ; 

And  later  years  his  fortunes  join 

To  Pennsylvania  on  this  continent. 

Isaac,  his  son,  'gainst  Indians  sent, 

Perpetuated  martial  thrift 

In  Anthony,  a  new  year  gift 

In  forty-five  to  freedom's  cause. 

A  regiment  he  quickly  draws 

To  arms,  at  independence  morn, 

And  colonel  made,  and  northward  borne, 

In  Canada  and  on  Champlain 

He  bears  and  guides  with  skill  the  strain 

Of  war,  till,  general  grown,  he  leads 

With  Washington  o'er  Jersey's  meads, 

And  Brandywine  and  Germantown 

Increase  with  praise  his  great  renown. 

Nor,  when  the  winter  famine  raged 

At  Valley  Forge  'mid  army  caged 

In  safe  retreat,  failed  his  brave  heart. 

Within  the  hostile  lines  to  start 

He  dares,  and  gains  needed  supplies, 

And  expectation  gratifies. 


WASHINGTON. 

Nor  was  he  far  on  Monmouth  day, 
But,  hastening  on  his  martial  way, 
Disaster  overcame,  and  fought 
With  fury,  and  victory  wrought. 
Now  is  the  hour,  and  he  is  sought 
To  lead  the  drooping  host  to  charms 
Of  glorious  success  in  arms. 
Disaster  and  inaction  mark 
The  patriot  name  and  cause,  for  hark ! 
A  wail !  and  crackling  flames  arise 
From  Chesapeake,  and  hastening  flies 
Rumor  of  the  Highland  fastness 
Approached,  and  forts  lost  in  distress. 

XIV 

From  Dunderberg  scarce  four  miles  south 
Lies  Stony  Point,  from  mainland  mouth 
A  huge  high  tongue  of  piercing  green 
Thrust  in  the  stream  that  rolls  between 
The  shores  three  quarters  of  a  mile. 
A  beacon  crowns  the  Point,  and,  while 
It  lights  each  vessel's  speeding  way 
Upon  the  river  with  its  ray, 
The  centre  of  the  fort  surmounts, 
Covering  the  magazine,  recounts 
The  past,  and  opposite  confronts 
The  remnants  of  old  Fort  Fayette 


STONY  POINT.  67 


At  Verplanck's  Point  on  east  bank  set." 

There  Hudson  anchored,  when  he  first 

Sailed  up  the  stream,  and,  moved  with  thirst 

Of  curiosity  to  greet 

His  craft,  the  Indians  from  their  seat 

Within  the  Highland  hills  flock  round 

In  wonder  at  the  pale  face  found. 

But  one  the  white  man's  goods  must  steal, 

Only  the  deadly  shot  to  feel ; 

And  bitter  hate  abroad  is  spread 

O'er  red  men's  blood  by  pale  face  shed. 

Three  sides  of  Stony  Point  around 

The  waters  washing  keep  a  bound 

Of  safety,  and  toward  land  morass 

Of  depth  and  dangerous  they  pass 

On  narrow  causeway,  where  high  tide 

Risen  makes  an  island  on  that  side. 

A  double  row  of  abatis 

And  outworks  round  the  fort  the  bliss 

Of  fancied  strength  afford  the  men 

Confined  within  the  warlike  pen; 

And  close  at  hand  within  the  bay 

Some  ships  of  war  with  cannon  lay. 

The  British  in  the  Fort  had  placed 

Six  hundred  men,  and  Johnson  graced 

With  its  command.     A  regiment, 

The  seventeenth,  and  contingent 

Of  grenadiers,  that  represent 


68  W 'A  SHING  TON. 


The  seventy-first,  fill  up  with  some 
Artillery  Bellona's  home. 
And  on  the  other  eastern  shore 
Lay  Webster  with  as  many  more ; 
And  these  his  soldiers  to  sustain 
Clinton  his  army  will  detain 
At  Philipsburg,  called  Yonkers  now, 
Opposing  Jersey's  rocky  brow. 

XV 

Head  of  his  army  brave  that  lay 
Around  him,  Washington  the  way 
Of  victory  with  Wayne  had  planned,33 
Who  would  assault  infernal  land 
At  his  loved  general's  wise  command. 
Twelve  hundred  light  armed  infantry 
From  Massachusetts  marched  boldly 
With  Wayne  the  morn  of  mid  July 
To  Sandy  Beach,  and  waiting  lie 
Half  of  the  day,  till  noon-tide  lags. 
Then  o'er  defiles  and  over  crags 
And  crossing  deep  morass  they  come 
Fourteen  miles  from  their  latest  home 
In  single  file  to  rendezvous 
At  eventide  by  waters  blue, 
Below  the  fated  Point  a  mile 
And  more,  and  wait  the  chosen  while 


STONY  POINT.  69 


Till  reconnaissance  made,  and  sleep 
Beguile  the  foe  like  darkness  deep. 

XVI 

The  time  of  hoeing  corn  had  been, 
And  round  the  fort  at  day  was  seen 
No  more  dark  Pompey  with  his  fruits." 
Servant  to  patriot  master,  suits 
It  more  his  purpose  shrewd  at  night 
To  peddle  viands,  and  recite 
To  the  sentries  the  countersign, 
Given  to  help  him  within  their  line. 
This  chosen  day  his  knowledge  gives 
Advantage  to  the  host,  and  lives 
Dark  Pompey  in  the  roll  of  fame. 
'  The  fort  's  our  own  "  they  may  declaim 
To  guards  that  challenge  their  advance. 
'T  is  half  eleven  past,  and  glance 
The  stars  from  heaven  in  splendor  seen. 
Placid  the  river,  and  trees  green 
With  foliage  rustle  in  the  breeze. 
No  barking  dogs  one  hears  or  flees, 
For  all  the  day  before  were  slain. 
The  sentinel  near  would  detain 
Pompey  with  two  farmers  disguised, 
Who  prompt  with  gag  the  man  surprised. 
Another  at  the  causeway  near 


7O  WA  SHING  TON. 


They  silence  likewise,  and  the  fear 

Of  premature  repulse  is  lost. 

Through  ebbing  tide  the  army  crossed, 

And  then  divided  for  the  fray. 

Muhlenburg's  three  hundred  stay" 

Reserved  beyond  the  low  morass, 

While  unobserved  the  others  pass 

In  north  and  southern  columns  led 

Upon  the  fort ;  and  at  the  head 

Of  each  with  bayonets  fixed,  and  load 

Of  powder  drawn,  the  van  the  road 

Essay,  with  Stewart  faring  forth26 

Upon  the  side  pitched  toward  the  north, 

And  prompt  De  Fleury  on  the  south." 

To  brave  Bellona's  cannon  mouth 

And  abatis  remove,  a  hope 

Forlorn  of  twenty  men  will  cope 

With  sure  destruction  for  each  band. 

With  Gibbon  and  with  Knox  they  stand,5 

Brave  comrades  of  their  leaders  brave. 

Behind  them  rolls  the  onward  wave 

Of  war  in  regiments  of  Meigs 

And  Febriger,  nor  captain  begs, 

For  Wayne  himself  as  chieftain  leads, 

While  Butler  and  Murfey  like  deeds  29 

Of  valor  on  the  north  advance, 

And  glory  of  our  name  enhance. 


STONY  POINT. 


XVII 

The  sentinels  their  muskets  fire, 
Fierce  rolls  the  drum,  and  loud  and  dire 
The  cry,  "  To  arms!  to  arms!  "  that  flies 
Throughout  the  fort.     The  soldiers  rise, 
The  ramparts  swarm,  the  cannon  roar, 
And  shot  and  balls  o'er  stream  and  shore 
Destruction  reign  upon  our  men. 

Advance!  advance!  "  they  hear  again 
Along  their  ranks,  and  axes  strike 
The  obstacles,  till  lionlike 
Through  opened  way  at  cost  of  life 
Wayne  heads  the  charge  and  leads  the  strife 
With  flashing  sword  and  piercing  shout. 
O'er  ditch  and  trees  and  rocks  about 
They  rush  with  bayonets  firmly  fixed, 
And,  when  their  ranks  with  foemen  mixed, 
Their  hats  with  paper  white  bedecked 
Columbia's  mutual  slaughter  checked. 
A  ball  strikes  Wayne  upon  the  head, 
And  on  the  ranks  he  fell,  and  bled ; 
But,  rising  on  a  knee,  he  said, 
(\Vith  Fishbrow  and  Archer's  support,)  30 

March  on !  carry  me  into  the  fort, 
For  I  will  die  at  the  head 
Of  my  column!  "  and  on  they  sped. 
His  men  the  deadly  volleys  take 


72  WA  SHING  TON. 


Upon  their  breasts,  and  vengeance  make 

With  rushing,  sweeping  bayonet  thrust 

That  scatters  all  between  like  dust, 

And  tramples  down.     De  Fleury  leads, 

And  valor  by  example  breeds. 

He  seeks  and  strikes  the  standard  low, 

As  in  the  fort  the  columns  flow 

Together,  and  up  the  staff  they  run 

Fair  freedom's  flag  to  greet  the  sun. 

The  garrison  for  quarters  ask, 

And  Johnson  ends  the  useless  task  3I 

Of  vain  defense.     Six  hundred  men, 

With  guns  and  stores  of  war  taken, 

Columbia's  great  victory  crown, 

And  o'er  the  land  spreads  Wayne's  renown/ 

XVIII 

'  The  fort  's  our  own!  "  the  countersign 
Will  sound  along  the  lengthening  line 
Of  history's  scroll,  tho'  men  were  slain 
Or  wounded  with  Bellona's  stain. 

'  The  fort  's  our  own!  "     Honor  to  those 
Who  won  the  night,  and  mastered  foes 
At  risk  and  cost  of  precious  life 
In  freedom's  name,  with  freemen's  strife! 
"  The  fort  's  our  own!  "  tho'  opposite 
Howe's  project  fail,  and  victory  flit  " 


STONY  POINT. 


73 


From  those  against  Fort  Fayette  sent, 
And  freedom's  arrow  backward  bent. 
"  The  fort  's  our  own!  "  tho'  soon  destroyed" 
By  victors  elsewhere  best  employed, 
And  foemen  came  the  scene  to  view, 
And  all  the  deed  of  valor  knew. 
'  The  fort  's  our  own!  "     A  beam  of  light 
To-day  adorns  the  famous  site, 
And  rays  of  guidance  long  have  shown 
The  place  that  Wayne's  men  made  our  own. 


CANTO   FOURTH 

WEST    POINT 

I 

WEST  POINT!  a  name  forever  dear1 
To  patriots,  whoe'er  shall  hear 
Of  thee  and  praise  thee  not  for  all 
The  echoes  of  the  bugle  call 
In  freedom's  memories  extant 
Around  thy  crags  reverberant  ? 
Whoe'er  shall  see  thy  beauteous  plain, 
Where  trees  in  peaceful  shadows  reign, 
While  frowning  mountains  guard  thy  flank 
And  tortuous  paths  the  river  bank 
Encircle  round  the  sloping  rock, 
And  northward,  where  the  cannon  shock 
Is  heard,  the  wondrous  stream  a  bay 
Becomes — shall  see  all  this,  and  pay 
Not  tribute  to  thy  magic  sway  ? 
Here,  fifty  miles  from  ocean's  roar, 

74 


WEST  POINT.  75 


The  deepened  river's  shelving  shore 
On  either  side  its  narrowest  bed 
Secures,  and  'mid  these  hills,  't  is  said, 
Once  Hudson  hove  his  Half  Moon  sloop8 
To  anchored  rest,  when  Autumn's  troop 
Their  colors  first  unfurled  to  view 
In  mid  September's  deepening  hue. 
The  falls  dash  down  a  mile  away  ' 
O'er  rocky  bed,  and  churn  their  spray 
Like  Buttermilk  that  lends  its  name 
To  those  cascades  of  neighboring  fame; 
And  toward  the  north,  on  island  near, 
The  wooded,  rocky  heights  appear 
For  Constitution  named  of  old 
And  forts  erected  in  the  wold. 
Above,  old  Cro'  Nest  and  Storm  King 
Stand  guard  with  Taurus  in  the  ring 
Of  hills,  with  Breakneck  on  the  north, 
And  on  the  south  there  issue  forth 
In  hazy  mass  Anthony's  Nose 
And  Dunderberg,  and  sombre  grows 
The  huge  Bear  Hill,  and  ever  throws 
On  subject  vales  darkling  shadows. 

II 

Here,  when  the  redmen  kept  the  hill,4 
Algonkin  warriors  of  shrill 


76  WA  SPIING  TON. 


War-cry  and  painted  cheek,  bedecked 
With  ornaments  of  wrath  unchecked, 
Roamed  hunting,  or  the  river  skimmed 
In  double-bowed  canoes,  and  dimmed 
The  scene  with  dusky  forms,  or  fought 
Foes  till  peace  the  calumet  brought. 
Wigwams  with  smoking  crests  arose, 
And  in  the  stream  the  angler  throws 
His  line,  and  great  the  booty  grows. 
The  field  with  maizy  masses  glows, 
And  Shatemuc  in  beauty  flows/ 
A  hill-locked  lake,  which  mirrored  shows 
The  sky  and  clouds,  the  mounts  and  trees, 
Or,  furrowed,  ruffles  'neath  the  breeze. 
Here  fourteen  score  of  years  gone  by 
Came  Hendrick  Hudson  safe  to  lie 
At  anchor  in  September's  eve; 
And,  when  the  English  flags  relieve  " 
The  Dutch  of  waving  o'er  their  forts, 
The  royal  seal  the  land  assorts, 
Congreve  and  Moore  the  Point  receive; 
But,  when  the  hills  the  war-cries  leave, 
They  deed  to  government  the  soil 
Hallowed  by  freedom's  patient  toil, 
To  house  the  soldiers  trained  for  war 
In  future  days,  and  near  and  far 
The  academic  glory  spreads, 
Where  valor  peaceful  learning  weds. 


WEST  POINT.  77 


III 


The  peaceful  scene  of  beauty  lay 
Prepared  with  bristling  forts  the  fray 
Of  revolution  strife  to  bear 
On  Constitution  isle  and  where 
Poplopen's  kill  to  Hudson's  stream 
Descends,  with  chain  and  boom  that  seem 
To  block  the  way  at  southern  gate ; 
But  all  in  vain ;  for  war's  stern  fate 
Gave  Clinton  all  these  citadels, 
Till  northern  misfortune  repels 
Him  with  tidings  of  surrender 
Of  Burgoyne,  which  retreat  engender 
To  city  by  the  sounding  sea. 
The  new  year  opes  auspiciously, 
And  Parsons  at  the  Point  arrives ' 
With  his  brigade  of  troops,  revives 
The  works  of  war  with  Radiere  8 
The  fortifying  to  prepare 
In  plans,  while  Kosciuszko's  rare9 
Accomplishments  the  building  crown. 
Mount  Independence  with  the  frown 
Of  Rufus  Putnam's  fort  the  plain10 
O'erlooked,  and  lower  rose  the  twain 
For  Webb  and  Wyllys  named.     A  chain  " 
Of  batteries  the  river  bank 
Surrounds,  and  on  its  winding  flank 


78  WASHINGTON. 


Fort  Arnold,  later  Clinton  called,13 
Its  threatening  bulwarks  reared,  and  walled 
The  green  with  cannon  the  Point  before, 
Where  boom  and  chain  together  o'er 
The  river  stretched  to  island  shore. 


IV 


What  time  Wayne  marched  his  men  below 
'Gainst  Stony  Point,  and  victory's  glow 
Of  joy  the  patriot  line  o'erspread, 
Columbia's  gathered  troops  were  led 
In  force  to  occupy  these  hills, 
And  thousands  held  the  Point  that  fills 
The  heart  with  thoughts  of  strife  gone  by. 
The  axe  and  spade  they  busy  ply, 
And  Kosciuszko's  work  complete 
To  stand  for  years  our  eyes  to  greet. 
Here,  midst  their  stationed  throng, 
Had  Washington  his  tent,  among  K1 
The  year's  slow-waning  days,  from  rise 
Of  Dog  star  till  the  full  moon  thrice 
And  four  times  cast  broad  beams  around, 
And  bleak  December  nearing  found 
The  trees  made  bare  and  stiffened  ground. 
Across  the  stream  at  Garrisons 
More  regiments  lay,  and  Nixon's  H 
Brigade  on  Constitution  Isle 


WEST  POINT.  79 


Encamped,  while,  past  the  long  defile 
Toward  Fishkill  broadening,  the  rest 
Were  stationed,  to  the  war  addressed, 
Did  Discord's  fangs  the  hills  molest. 

V 

He  conquers  who  can  patient  wait. 

So  Fabius  the  Roman  state 

Preserved  from  Hannibal,  and  great 

William  from  Spain  could  liberate 

The  Netherlands  confederate. 

Those  lofty  hills,  a  coronet 

Of  emerald  encircling,  set 

Their  guardian  glory  meetly  met 

Around  wise  Washington,  who  let 

Not  wily  foes  extend  a  net 

Of  stratagem,  wherein  to  fall. 

This  nest  of  war,  in  easy  call 

Of  homing  birds,  attent  to  all 

The  tidings  sent,  within  its  wall 

Of  forest  heights  rejoiced,  yet  pall 

Of  sadness  felt  at  sorrow  told. 

Exuberance  of  victory  rolled 

Upon  these  shores  from  Wayne's  fierce,  bold, 

Surges  of  war  that  drowned  the  hold 

Of  Albion  below  ;  nor  cold 

Had  grown  his  universal  fame 


8O  WASHINGTON. 


When  with  the  rushing  tide-wave  came 

A  new  exploit,  heroic  name, 

A  bag  of  ruddy,  royal  game 

From  all  the  meed  of  praise  to  claim. 


VI 


'T  was  "  Legion  Harry  "  Lee  who  fell I5 

On  Paulus'  Hook  (which  now  we  spell 

As  Jersey  City)  with  his  men 

Three  hundred  strong,  and  from  the  pen 

Of  war  captured  red  coats,  eight  score. 

Retreating  safely  from  the  roar 

Of  August  midnight  enterprise, 

A  medal,  Congress  voted,  lies 

Upon  his  breast,  and  later  fights 

He  in  the  South,  and  later  frights 

The  Pennsylvania  whiskey  mob 

With  magic  name,  while  soldiers  rob 

Of  terror  the  rebellion  sprung. 

What  time  dire  news  with  sorrow  wrung 

The  land  at  Washington's  demise, 

Apt  words  from  his  pen  falling  rise 

The  hero  lost  to  characterize 

The  one  "  first  in  war,  first  in  peace, 

And  first  in  the  hearts  of  his 

Countrymen  " — panegyric  wise, 

Whose  echo  lingering  round  us  lies. 


WEST  POINT.  8 1 


VII 

Hark !  wailing,  burning,  slaughter,  cries  16 

From  western  Wyoming  arise. 

Thither  has  sped  the  caravan 

Of  war  with  sturdy  Sullivan, 

By  brave  James  Clinton  reinforced, 

Whose  Highland  forts  Bellona  coursed 

Erstwhile  with  drear  catastrophe. 

Elmira's  vale  with  victory 

O'er  redmen  and  their  tory  friends 

Revenge  for  former  slaughter  sends 

Upon  the  crafty  sons  of  war. 

To  Genesee  the  patriots  mar 

The  country  of  the  enemy, 

And  then  return  their  homes  to  see. 

VIII 

Lo!  John  Paul  Jones  on  Albion's  coast " 

With  three  small  ships  in  battle  tossed 

Upon  the  deep,  till  Serapis 

Shall  yield,  and  convoyed  fleet  be  his! 

September's  days  his  prowess  own, 

And  mighty  ocean  now  hath  known 

The  navy  of  Columbia, 

The  rise  of  freedom's  morning  star 

Above  horizon's  nothingness 


82  WA  SUING  TON. 


In  vasty  billows  numberless. 

The  Bon  Homme  Richard  in  the  fight 

Goes  down  in  ocean  tomb  from  sight, 

But  victory  afloat  is  ours. 

The  waning  year  its  closing  hours 

Shall  brighten  round  the  Highland  seat 

With  message  from  the  cruising  fleet. 

IX 

Southward  the  wave  of  war  had  rolled,18 

And  slowly  surged  through  the  winter  cold 

Upon  doomed  Charleston,  the  fount  of  strife, 

And  lately  tossed  with  earthquakes  rife. 

Scarce  six  months  passed,  and  blooming  May 

Saw  Lincoln  forced  his  sword  to  lay 

At  Clinton's  feet,  while  conquering  bands 

Through  Carolina  ranged  the  lands. 

Round  Marion,  Sumter,  Pickens  still 

The  patriots  rallying  fill 

The  victors  with  alarm,  e'en  when 

De  Kalb  at  Camden  fell,  and  men 

Deserted  Gates,  whom  Greene  succeeds, 

And  skillfully  the  army  leads. 

The  Northern  host,  contending  'gainst 

The  bitter  cold,  with  rude  huts  fenced 

Their  shivering  forms  at  Morristown, 

And  hungered  oft,  braving  the  frown 


WEST  POINT.  83 


Of  nature  and  misfortune  fell. 

The  freezing  blasts  that  year  compel 

The  New  York  Bay  congealed  to  stand 

A  solid  floor,  a  level  land, 

To  bear  artillery  and  troops. 

Then  the  lowest  in  the  market  droops 

The  Continental  credit  pledged 

The  patriot  cause  as  one  full  fledged 

With  sure  success  to  clothe  and  feed. 

Then  officers  and  men  in  need, 

Distressed,  to  Congress  would  proceed, 

Or  homeward  go,  or  intercede 

With  bayonets  for  subsistence  sought 

From  those  around  whose  lands  they  fought. 

Amid  these  Highlands,  bleak  hills  beneath, 

The  Massachusetts  lines  with  Heath 

Their  chieftain  hutted  lay,  while  'round 

Them  snow  four  feet  thick  spread  the  ground, 

And  antipodes  disaster  found 

To  add  to  cold  a  fiery  wound, 

And  Washington  the  tidings  learned, 

How  barracks  in  Fort  Arnold  burned 

In  ruins  lay,  to  ashes  turned. 


X 


What  time  the  Summer  balm  had  come, 
And  Clinton  from  the  South  to  home 


84  WASHINGTON. 


Returning  in  the  North  had  seen 

The  city  by  the  sea,  the  green 

Clad  hills  'round  Jersey's  Springfield  saw19 

His  troops  adventured  in  the  jaw 

Of  battle  by  Knyphausen  led, 

By  Greene's  resistance  baffled,  bled, 

And  backward  disappointed  hurled, 

With  flaunting  scarlet  standards  furled. 

Then  blooming  on  the  wave-crashed  crags 

Of  Newport's  rocky  shore  the  flags 

Of  lilied  France  are  welcomed  near — 

The  Summer  harvest  of  the  drear 

Winter  that  housed  at  home  the  heart 

Of  Lafayette,  who  then  the  part 

Of  freedom's  true  ally  sustained, 

And  pleading  pledged  assistance  gained. 

Six  thousand  under  Rochambeau, 

Ready  the  gage  of  war  to  throw, 

Embarked  in  ships,  a  convoyed  fleet, 

With  Admiral  De  Tiernay  meet 

To  render  aid  across  the  sea. 

But  reinforced  the  enemy 

With  mighty  fleet  imprison  fast 

In  Narragansett  Bay  this  last 

Return  of  long-hoped  help,  and  wears 

Old  Time  away.     September  fares 

Its  bronzing  journey,  and  provokes 

A  conference  by  Hartford's  oaks 


WEST  POINT.  85 


Of  Washington  and  Rochambeau. 
So  Washington  must  Eastward  go, 
And  leave  an  unsuspected  foe 
To  weave  a  web  of  wily  woe. 


XI 


Mixtures  of  good  and  evil  born, 

By  grace  restrained,  by  passion  torn, 

Men's  hearts  to  truth  and  falsehood  turn, 

And  by  experiences  learn 

Eternal  laws  of  majesty 

That  rule  their  endless  destiny. 

In  eastern  Norwich  on  the  Sound, 

Upon  the  blue  Connecticut  ground, 

Was  Benedict  Arnold  given  life ; 20 

And,  when  the  revolution  strife 

Broke  out,  to  Cambridge  with  his  guards 

He  marched,  and  Fort  Ti  afterwards 

Assailed  at  Ethan  Allan's  side. 

At  Champlain's  Lake  his  courage  vied 

With  Mars,  and  Canada  was  ware 

Of  his  bold  spirit,  who  knew  no  care 

Of  life  in  war's  hot  action  lost. 

His  Saratogan  valor  cost 

Burgoyne  his  lingering  hope,  tho'  wounds 

Inflicted  kept  him  close,  and  grounds 

Of  popular  complaint  he  gave 


86  WASHINGTON. 


In  Philadelphia  by  the  knave 

Latent  within  that  reappeared, 

And  harsh  and  mercenary  feared 

Not  profit  by  extortion  cursed. 

Led  on  by  childish,  wayward  thirst 

Extravagant,  he  thought  to  sell 

For  gain  his  country,  and  compel 

Her  shame.     Censure  court-martial  passed, 

And  Washington  with  mildness  cast 

On  him  the  merited  rebuke, 

Which  his  proud  spirit  would  not  brook. 

With  Clinton  now  he  corresponds, 

Signing  "  Gustavus  "  to  his  bonds 

Of  infamy,  to  whom  Andre, 

John  Anderson,"  response  must  pay 
In  Clinton's  name.      Matures  the  plot, 
As  August  nears,  for  valued  spot 
Of  warlike  trust  would  Arnold  gain 
In  armed  West  Point,  and  would  retain 
But  as  a  spoil  for  gold  to  give 
To  Clinton's  troops,  himself  to  live 
A  traitor  to  his  country's  cause 
Within  the  lines  once  fought  in  war's 
Hot,  rankling  fury.     Conference 
He  first  must  have,  and  represents 
His  need,  his  wife's  friend  Andre  names 
For  the  debate,  and  fear  he  tames. 


WEST  POINT.  87 


XII 

Of  Genevese  Swiss  ancestry 

Was  Andre  born  in  London  three 

Years  ere  the  French-Indian  war.91 

In  loving  foiled,  he  sought  the  scar 

To  soothe  in  martial  service  far 

From  home  in  war-scourged  Canada. 

A  major,  adjutant  general, 

He  was  promoted,  and  with  all 

Warm  favor  found  from  manners  kind 

And  polished  powers  of  the  mind. 

To  serve  his  king,  ambition  sate, 

Enroll  his  name  among  the  great, 

He  met  the  false,  and  lost  his  life. 

September's  leaves  with  breezes  rife 

Had  ripened  in  their  dusky  hue, 

And  charmed  the  traveler's  wandering  view 

A  week,  when  Arnold  word  he  sent 

To  meet  him  at  Dobb's  ferry,  went 

There  on  the  Vulture ;  but  access 

For  Arnold  from  the  shore  the  stress 

Of  cannon  fired  warmly  denied, 

And  back  to  Garrisons  he  hied, 

And  there  amid  the  shading  trees 

Robinson's  house,  headquarters,  sees, 

Where  he  had  planned  to  bring 

Lost  Andre  to  some  conferring. 


WASHINGTON. 

XIII 

A  day  past  mid  September  gone, 

The  Vulture  sailed  the  stream  alone 

To  Teller's  Point  with  Robinson," 

Who  letter  sent  to  Arnold,  shown 

To  Washington,  by  whom  advised 

'Gainst  intercourse  Arnold  apprised 

The  sender  of  the  journey  East 

To  Hartford.     Twenty  days  released 

September's  sun  from  sombre  night, 

When  Andr6,  riding,  came  in  sight 

Of  the  Vulttire,  and  on  her  deck 

A  day  he  spent,  when  mid  the  wreck 

Of  Summer  at  the  equinox 

And  'mid  the  night  he  hears  oarlocks 

With  muffled  blades  approach,  and  Smith 

From  Haverstraw  ascends,  and,  with 

Letter  from  Arnold,  enters,  him 

To  row  ashore.     Where  High  Torn  grim 

Its  lofty  shadow  two  miles  throws 

Below  fair  Haverstraw,  where  grows 

A  thicket  dense,  he  lands  to  find 

Concealed  the  traitor,  whose  dark  mind 

Of  treason  spoken  now  he  hears 

With  numerous  words  prolonged  till  peers 

The  dawn  above  horizon's  line; 

And  to  complete  the  dark  design 


WEST  POINT.  89 


Four  miles  northward  reluctant  rides 

The  British  adjutant,  and  hides, 

With  covered  scarlet  coat  besides, 

With  Arnold  in  Smith's  vacant  manse, 

Within  the  patriot  lines.     Descants 

The  traitor  on  his  cherished  plots, 

While  Livingston  the  project  blots 

From  Teller's  Point  by  firing  guns 

On  Vulture,  so  that  down  she  runs 

At  lower  anchorage  to  rest. 

The  morning  hours  the  plotting  dressed 

With  plan  matured,  and  named  a  day 

For  British  troops  to  change  their  way 

From  Chesapeake  to  Highland  forts, 

Where  Arnold  at  the  loud  reports 

Of  war  the  troops  would  prompt  disperse, 

And  loose  the  iron  chain,  and  curse 

His  country  with  catastrophe. 

Orders  given  the  artillery 

And  estimates  of  forces  placed 

Upon  West  Point  and  of  those  traced 

As  needed  for  defence,  a  list 

Of  ordnance  there,  and  tale  of  tryst, 

Where  generals  in  council  met 

With  Washington,  the  traitor  set 

In  Andre's  hands,  a  fatal  net. 


90  WA  SHING  TON. 


XIV 

At  ten  o'clock  they  rise  and  part, 

And  up  the  stream  the  oarsmen  start, 

Returning  Arnold  to  his  place 

Toward  eventide.     With  anxious  face 

Andr£  besought  his  host  to  row 

Him  to  the  Vulture,  but  to  go 

Upon  the  stream  once  more  declined 

Shrewd  Smith;  and  o'er  King's  Ferry  find 

They  passage  to  the  Eastern  shore, 

And  on  to  Crompond  press,  where  more  " 

Delay  at  vigilant  Boyd's  hands 

They  suffer,  till  Arnold's  pass  stands 

For  their  deliverance,  and  sleep 

At  Miller's  cottage  falls  to  keep 

Their  wearied  eyelids  till  the  day. 

At  Underhill's  breakfasting  they 

Part  ere  Pine's  bridge  is  crossed,  and  Smith 

To  Fishkill  turns,  and  Andre  with 

Fatal  papers  southward  wends. 

'T  is  Saturday,  and  the  hour  tends 

Toward  ten  o'clock,  when  Tarrytown 

Is  within  half  a  mile,  and  down 

In  bushes  by  the  stream  the  three, 

Paulding,  Van  Wart,  and  Williams,  see 

The  traveler  approach  unknown. 

Paulding  with  gun  steps  out  alone, 


WEST  POINT.  91 


And  bids  him  tell  the  way  he  goes. 
He  hopes  that  they  belong  to  those 
Upon  his  own,  the  "  lower,"  side. 
To  whom  falsely  Paulding  replied. 
Truth  next  the  lost  one's  words  prefer; 
"  I  am  a  British  officer," 
And  he  must  then  be  not  detained. 
To  dismount  by  Paulding  constrained 
On  show  of  watch  with  truth  to  glass 
His  words,  he  fetches  out  his  pass 
From  Arnold,  but  't  is  all  too  late. 
Within  the  bushes  searched,  the  bait 
Of  treachery  upon  his  feet 
Is  found,  which  his  stockings  secrete — 
Three  tell-tale  papers  bound  in  each. 
A  spy  they  name  him,  and  to  speech 
Of  promised  ransom  turn  deaf  ear. 
They  march  him  to  North  Castle  near, 
And  Jameson  there  in  command 
To  Arnold  sends  him  with  a  band 
Of  guards,  and  writes  of  papers  found. 
Tallmadge  appearing  on  the  ground 
By  pleading  brought  the  captive  back, 
And  to  North  Salem  turned  his  track. 
The  captive  on  the  Sabbath  day 
To  Salem  came,  and,  writing,  lay 
Before  great  Washington  his  name 
And  rank  to  vindicate  his  fame. 


92  WA  SUING  TON. 


XV 

The  chosen  Sabbath  day  arrived, 
The  time  by  treason's  plot  contrived 
To  bring  the  hostile  army  here ; 
But  failed  the  red-coats  to  appear. 
From  Hartford  Washington's  return 
The  French  ambassador  Luzerne 
At  Fishkill  stayed  till  Monday's  light, 
When  down  to  Garrisons'  at  sight 
Of  sun  he  rode,  and  first  inspects 
Redoubts  upon  the  stream.      Expects 
Base  Arnold  at  the  morning  meal 
His  noble  chief.     Instead,  the  seal 
Of  Jameson  arrives  with  news 
Of  Andre's  capture,  and  imbues 
The  traitor  with  the  fear  of  life. 
Apart,  he  tells  and  leaves  his  wife, 
Sunk  in  a  swoon,  perhaps  to  die. 
Of  passing  to  West  Point  a  lie 
He  tells  the  aides,  and,  mounting,  flies 
Down  a  steep  path,  and  further  hies 
Upon  the  silver  stream  in  barge 
By  oarsmen  urged  in  hope  of  large 
Promised  reward.     The  Vulture  lay 
At  Teller's  Point,  a  bird  of  prey, 
Devouring  oarsmen  with  their  chief, 
Until  to  their  deserved  relief 


WEST  POINT.  93 


Came  Clinton,  and  released  the  crew, 
Their  homeward  journey  to  pursue. 

XVI 

At  table,  left  by  Arnold  fled, 

Had  Washington  soon  breakfasted, 

And  o'er  West  Point,  the  silent  works, 

Surveyed  his  glance,  and  noontide  lurks 

Upon  the  scene,  when  he  recrossed 

The  silver  stream,  and,  mounting,  lost 

In  wonder  heard  the  story  told 

And  read  the  proofs  of  treason  bold 

From  Jameson  at  last  received. 

He  sorrowing  the  tale  believed, 

And  summoned  Andr£  to  the  place, 

Yet  never  saw  the  lost  one's  face. 

On  Tuesday  Andr£  came,  and  slept 

Two  nights  at  Western  Point,  well  kept 

In  custody,  till  Thursday  sent 

Him  down  to  Tappan,  the  event 

Of  Friday's  trials  to  await. 

The  generals  deliberate 

Upon  his  case,  and  as  a  spy 

They  doomed  him  'customed  death  to  die. 

The  following  day  Washington  gave 

Approval  to  the  sentence  grave, 

And  Sunday  named  whereon  to  wreak 


94  WA  SHING  TON. 


Its  penalty.     The  British  seek 

By  parley  Andre's  life  to  save, 

But  will  not  yield  the  traitor  knave 

To  suffer  in  his  victim's  stead, 

And  selfish  Arnold  keeps  his  head. 

Parley  delayed  the  bitter  fate 

Till  Monday  noon ;  and  then  in  state" 

Went  Andre  forth,  the  multitude 

And  troops  and  waiting  gibbet  rude 

To  meet.     A  momentary  pang 

'T  will  be,  he  said,  about  to  hang, 

And  bandaged  his  eyes,  slipped  the  noose 

Over  his  head,  and,  while  't  was  loose, 

Permission  used  the  throng  to  address ; 

I  pray  you  to  bear  me  witness 
That  I  meet  my  fate  like  a  brave  man." 
So  died  the  major  near  Tappan, 
And  buried  lay  in  open  field 
Forty  years,  till  wounds  had  healed 
Between  the  lands,  when  England  claimed 
And  took  her  dead  to  abbey  famed, 
At  Westminster,  near  monument 
Of  praise  erst  reared  to  represent 
The  gratitude  of  George  the  Third 
On  marbles  graved  with  lasting  word. 


WEST  POINT.  95 


XVII 

So  failed  the  plot  against  the  land 

And  people's  cause,  who  constant  stand 

And  wait  another  year  to  gain 

Success.     To  wipe  away  the  stain 

Of  treason  mentioned  in  a  name 

The  fort  for  Arnold  called  the  same 

Remains  not,  but  for  Clinton  known 

Continues  to  the  present  down. 

Forth  from  the  Highlands  southward  rolled 

America's  soldiers  to  fold 

With  them  of  France  the  English  host 

In  Yorktown  lost,  and  lay  their  boast 

Of  conquest  here.     Returned,  rejoiced, 

In  May's  fair  bloom  their  joy  they  voiced38 

At  tidings  of  the  Dauphin's  birth 

In  France,  and  hither  brought  their  worth 

Of  chivalry  with  Washington 

On  May's  last  day,  at  waning  sun, 

To  feast  and  toast  in  colonnade 

Of  trees  by  Villefranche  made 

Upon  the  West  Point  plain  displayed. 

With  boughs  and  branches  roofed  and  walled, 

With  flowers  festooned  and  garlands  palled, 

And  pillars  girt  with  bayonets, 

Illumed  at  fall  of  night  by  sets 

Of  lights,  the  arbor  beamed  with  stars, 


90  WA  SUING  TON. 

While  danced  the  dames  with  sons  of  Mars. 

The  cannon  roared  at  toasts  announced, 

The  volleys  flashed,  and  then  pronounced 

The  officers  a  blessing  prayed 

The  dauphin  born,  while  the  troops  made 

The  welkin  ring  with  hearty  cheers 

Thrice  given  him.     As  midnight  nears, 

The  fireworks  blaze,  the  rockets  soar, 

The  wheels  revolve,  and  fountains  pour, 

Trees  bloom  and  fade,  and  beehives  swarm, 

Balloons  ascend,  and  stars  perform 

With  fleurs  de  lis  against  the  sky, 

Till  in  the  gloom  extinct  they  die. 

So  died  the  dauphin  in  the  year 

Of  France's  revolution,  near 

The  fall  of  monarchy  and  rise 

Of  liberty.      Our  soldiers'  cries 

For  blessing,  answered  wondrous  wise, 

Raised  him  from  earth's  darkness  to  the  skies. 

XVIII 

A  year  had  fled,  and  peace  was  near ; 
From  Newburgh  marched  the  army  here 
To  be  disbanded  and  sent  home, 
Save  those  retained,  and  of  these  some 
Upon  the  Point,  where  in  the  year  come 
Of  ninety-four  the  Congress  sets 


WEST  POINT.  97 


A  corps  with  thirty-two  cadets 
Artillerists  and  engineers, 
Till  strife  in  eighteen  twelve  appears, 
When  swells  the  number,  and  the  corps 
Of  engineers  is  something  more 
As  an  academy  of  war, 
Whilst  the  frontier  of  Canada 
The  prowess  of  our  soldiers  knows, 
Contending  'gainst  their  country's  foes. 
The  Indian  and  Mexican 
Have  later  felt  American 
Valor  trained  here  to  win  success 
By  art  and  science  given  to  bless 
Courage  with  sound  discretion's  reign. 
Thayer  in  marble  on  the  plain," 
A  graduate  and  warrior  proved, 
Stands  looking  on  the  work  beloved 
He  superintended  sixteen  years, 
Whilst  on  his  right  by  shade  trees  peers 
The  chapel  with  the  blazoned  names 
Of  generals,  whose  deathless  fames 
The  Revolution  crowned,  and  cased 
The  flags  won  from  Cornwallis  graced 
The  walls,  and  studious  thousands  faced. 
Leftward  on  Trophy  Point  the  links 
Of  Revolution's  chain  that  shrinks 
In  modest  length  around  the  bronze 
In  cannon  cast,  La  Monarque,  once 

7 


98  WA  SHING  TON. 


To  La  Fayette  by  Congress  given. 
Near  by,  from  war's  hot  fury  driven 
To  rest,  stretch  rows  of  cannon  won 
From  Mexican  and  bold  Briton. 
Upon  the  banks  mid  shadows  green 
Brave  Kosciuszko's  shaft  is  seen 
Above  flirtation  walk  serene 
That  shaded  winds,  and  winding  ends 
In  garden  where  sweet  nature  blends 
With  art ;  both  beauteous  memories  give 
Of  Poland's  love-lorn  fugitive. 

XIX 

For  Bade  and  his  command  who  fell 3B 
In  distant  Florida,  and  well 
Serving  their  loved  country,  endures 
A  marble  shaft  that  long  insures 
Their  recollected  bravery. 
Across  the  plain  one  slavery 
In  war  had  slain  ensculptured  stands, 
Sedgwick  doomed  in  Virginia's  lands.29 
Beyond,  the  shaded,  twisting  road 
To  cemetery  leads,  abode 
Of  sleeping  heroes  in  the  green, 
Where  many  warrior  names  are  seen. 
The  revolution  Alden  recalls,30 
Thompson  at  Okee-cho-bee  falls,81 


WEST  POINT.  99 


And  Winfield  Scott  wins  Mexico.33 

Again  see  Anderson  the  woe  " 

Of  war  in  Sumpter  bear,  and  hear 

The  roar  of  Gilmore's  guns  that  peer34 

Embrasured  deadly.     The  rattle 

Of  Custer's  sabres  sounds  in  battle86 

'Round  us,  and  far  away  the  fight 

Of  Wilderness  and  plain  to  light 

Is  brought,  and  forts  besieged  and  won. 

Here  Grant,36  Sherman,37  and  Sheridan  " 

Their  great  renown  began,  and  they 

Who  led  opposing  hosts  the  way 

Of  war  to  traverse  afterward 

Here  learned,  e'en  Lee39  and  Beauregard/ 

'Gainst  whom  McClellan  led  his  men  41 

And  Halleck,  those  weary  days  when  " 

The  land  divided  fought  and  bled 

That  Washington  left  united. 

XX 

Cadets  three  thousand  four  hundred 
Have  drilled  and  studied  here,  numbered 
'Mongst  officers  or  civilians, 
Engineering  for  the  millions. 
Ordeals  they  passed,  and  entered  in, 
The  awkward  squad  survived  to  win 
Their  way  to  swell  the  dress  parade, 


100  WASHINGTON. 


And  hear  band  music  deftly  played. 
The  sunset  gun  is  fired,  down  flies 
The  flag,  and  at  the  chieftain's  cries 
The  arms  are  manualed,  report 
The  sergeants,  and  with  orders  short 
And  officers'  salute  dismissed 
Fades  the  parade.     Reveille  kissed 
The  slumber  from  the  sleeping  brow, 
And  guard  mount  strains  are  wafted  now 
To  listening  ears.     Inspection  looks 
Each  week  at  arms  and  garb  and  nooks 
Of  quarters  open,  whilst  night-time 
In  camp  mingles  soft  music's  chime 
With  rhythmic  foot-prints  in  the  dance, 
Until  tattoo  ends  glide  and  glance. 
They  swim  the  stream,  and  ply  the  oars, 
With  rifles  fired  resound  the  shores, 
And  pontoon  bridges  cross  the  waves. 
The  hissing  ball  the  float  mark  shaves, 
Or  on  the  mount  descending  strikes. 
Hark !  hear  the  drill  the  soldier  likes, 
Artillery  rattling,  firing  loud, 
And  dust  arising  as  a  cloud 
Upon  the  plain  by  horses  swept. 
With  sabres  horsed  to  charge  adept 
The  youth  ride  by,  or  in  mild  ranks 
Of  infantry  evolve  by  flanks, 
And  march,  or  charge,  or  skirmish  quick. 


WEST  POINT.  10 1 


The  four  years  up,  visitors  pick 
The  learned  valor  out,  approve 
The  work,  and  see  the  soldiers  move 
In  drills  that  represent  their  skill. 
Examinations  passed,  they  will 
Enjoy  the  graduation  hop, 
And  spin  the  saltatory  top. 
Diplomas  given  beneath  the  trees 
Shall  end  the  days  of  gray  for  these, 
Changed  to  brave  officers  in  coats 
Of  blue,  and  others  come.     So  floats 
The  stream  of  life  'mid  hills  of  war 
With  shadows  reaching  out  so  far. 


CANTO   FIFTH 

FISHKILL 

I 

ENDURING  steadfast,  mountains  stand 
With  verdure  sprinkled  o'er  the  grand 
Array  of  rocks  exposed,  while  glide 
In  living  motion  waters  wide 
Or  narrow  of  the  rushing  stream. 
Of  things  in  daylight  seen  we  dream 
At  night,  and  environs  the  mind 
Affect,  and  mountaineers  may  find 
In  rocky  hills  exemplars  meet 
To  guide  and  hold  their  shifting  feet. 
The  stars  above  look  down  in  hope 
On  earth  that  weary  scans  their  cope 
To  read  a  promise  of  success 
To  come,  and  from  the  wilderness 
Of  struggle  passing  to  the  plain 
Of  safety  peaceful,  where  the  reign 
102 


FISH  KILL.  IO3 

Of  free  industry  is  assured. 

One  winter  more  patient  endured 

Shall  find  America's  fair  spring 

Of  blossomed  glory  appearing, 

And  Washington  with  diadem 

Of  victory  elect  with  them 

Who  erst  for  freedom  strove  and  won. 

December's  solstice  nears  the  sun, 

When  winter  quarters  had  begun 

For  all  the  host  safe  from  treason 

Delivered,  and  in  Morristown 

The  Pennsylvanians  from  the  frown 

Of  nature  housed  them,  whilst  Pompton 

Hides  the  Jersey  brigades,  and  on 

The  Hudson's  banks  Massachusetts 

Continuing  the  cause  abets 

With  four  brigades  at  West  Point  placed. 

On  eastern  shore  confronting  faced 

These  two  Connecticut  brigades, 

With  New  Hampshire's  men  and  the  aids 

Rhode  Island  sent.     But  Washington 

At  New  Windsor  tarried  for  one 

More  waiting  till  the  war  had  run 

Its  course  and  set,  as  when  the  sun 

Victorious  its  glory  sheds 

Around  to  linger  on  the  heads 

Of  mountains,  farewell  fond  to  say 

To  sturdy  toilers  of  the  day. 


1 04  WA  SUING  TON. 


II 


November  sombre  in  Eighty, 

Over  a  hundred  years  lately 

Gone  by,  the  friendly  coming  hailed 

Of  Gallia's  Marquis,  who  had  sailed ' 

From  home  to  visit  the  allies 

Of  France,  and  from  the  east  with  wise 

Footsteps  to  old  Fishkill  journeyed — 

De  Chastellux  his  name  we  read. 

Then  fifty  houses  lay  around 

The  village  site  within  the  ground 

Of  Rambout's  patent,  where  the  creek 

Flows  shaded  'neath  the  hills  to  seek 

The  Hudson's  broader  silver  stream. 

Borne  back  two  centuries  we  seem, 

When  Rambout's  daughter  marries  Brett, 

And  they  their  country  mansion  set 

Within  these  lands,  standing  to-day. 

Verplancks  and  Van  Voorhees  this  way 

Settle ;  Brinckerhoffs  and  Van  Vliets, 

De  Peysters  and  Van  Wycks  their  seats 

Establish ;  Van  Tassels,  Du  Bois, 

Schoutens,  Ter  Boos,  Noostrands  make  choice 

Of  homes,  Brevorts,  Ostranders,  Schencks, 

Hegemans,  Roosekrans,  Lessinks, 

Swartwouts,  De  Largers,  and  the  rest, 

Unmentioned,  yet  among  the  best. 


FISH  KILL.  105 


III 


Two  churches  then  in  Fishkill  stood, 

The  one  of  stone  and  one  of  wood. 

The  latter  housed  the  English  rite ; 

And,  when  the  patriots  from  the  sight 

Of  war  around  New  York  removed, 

E'en  here  to  Fishkill  it  behooved 

Their  Congress  of  the  state  to  come, 

And  use  the  English  churchly  home 

In  Constitutional  debate. 

Through  wintry  months  here  sat  the  great 

At  work  upon  our  law  till  fear 

Of  war  in  February  drear 

Moved  them  to  Kingston,  where  in  May 

Of  seventy  seven  the  day 

Of  dissolution  dawned.     They  part 

With  two  years'  labor  o'er,  a  chart 

To  give,  a  Constitution  long 

To  guide  the  people,  and  from  the  wrong 

Defend  the  right.     Twice  since  we  changed 

The  ancient  instrument,  estranged 

From  current  use,  and  oft  enlarged 

Its  articles,  like  branches  charged 

On  high  with  fruits  and  leafage  grown 

That  still  for  life  their  rooting  own 

In  ancient  trunk  and  netted  coil 

Of  seed-sprung  shoots  beneath  the  soil. 


1 06  WA  SUING  TON. 


IV 


In  the  same  church  where  sage  debate 
Resolved  a  charter  for  the  state, 
First  printed  in  Fishkill,  the  sick 
Soldiers  were  nursed  to  keep  the  wick 
Of  life  afire,  whilst  caged  near  by 
The  prisoners  of  the  war  lie 
In  the  Dutch  church  erst  made  of  stone. 
A  row  of  port-holes  wisely  thrown 
Into  the  upper  story  walls 
Against  the  Redmen's  arrows,  balls, 
And  fierce  attack  had  lent  defense ; 
And  here  was  Crosby  for  offense  3 
Of  seeming  aid  to  royal  foes 
Confined  a  captive,  kept  with  those 
Whom  his  espial  had  disclosed 
To  patriot  leaders  that  supposed 
And  knew  his  knowledge  truly  told. 
Escape,  connived  at,  to  his  old 
vService  restored  the  spy  a  while, 
Till  darkling  danger  from  his  guile 
Dissuaded  him.     But  still  he  lives 
In  Cooper's  storied  page  that  gives 
The  Spy  his  due  of  grateful  praise, 
Describes  the  Wharton  house  of  days  4 
Gone  by,  built  by  Van  Wyck,  and  all 
The  scene  around,  where  mountains  fall 


FISH  KILL.  lO/ 

With  shadows  on  the  plain  below, 
And  Fishkill's  babbling  waters  flow. 

V 

At  Wharton  house  the  officers 

Their  quarters  kept ;  and  horse  and  spurs 

But  two  miles  passed  to  Washington, 

When  he  headquarters  placed  at  one 

Time  with  the  Brinckerhoff  to  north  B 

And  east  beyond ;  and  southward  forth 

Toward  the  mountains  barracks  lay 

To  house  the  soldiers  from  the  fray 

Of  conflict  or  of  winter  cold. 

A  noble  walnut  tree  of  old 

Before  the  manse  adorned  the  field, 

With  iron  ring,  where  soldiers  yield 

To  chastisement.     The  magazines, 

Work-house  and  prisons  dot  the  greens; 

And  in  the  corner,  where  the  road 

Branches  eastward,  where  the  corn  is  sowed, 

We  look  upon  the  last  abode 

Of  soldiers  dead  and  buried  here, 

Who  fell  from  wounds  and  lack  of  cheer. 

O  martyred  host,  obscure,  unnamed, 

Unnumbered,  but  forever  famed, 

Revered  and  loved !  some  sightly  shaft 

Of  modern  wealth  and  modern  craft 


1 08  WA  SUING  2  'ON. 


Shall  yet  this  hallowed  spot  adorn, 

Inscribed  like  ancient  legend  borne 

Upon  Thermopylae's  great  stone, 

Through  freedom's  realms  by  all  men  known, 

"  Stranger  go,  to  America  tell; 

Obedient  to  her  laws  we  fell.' 


VI 


All  this  the  Marquis  saw,  and  turned 

To  travel  southward,  where  he  learned 

The  way  to  West  Point  winding  led 

Between  the  mountains  with  their  bed 

Of  caves  and  tangled  trees  for  bears 

That  lurk  within  these  lofty  lairs. 

Within  the  woods  a  fort  appears 

Beside  the  road,  and  now  he  nears 

The  sombre  shades  of  Beacon  hill 

And  Grand  Sachern,  where  patriots  fill 

The  night  betimes  with  warning  fires, 

In  lieu  of  telegraphic  wires, 

Of  news  or  danger  nigh  to  tell. 

Four  miles  he  had  descended  well 

On  his  journey,  when  in  a  camp 

Hundreds  of  soldiers  with  the  stamp 

Of  suffering  on  their  naked  forms 

Were  seen,  there  sheltered  from  the  storms, 

With  ready  arms  and  courage  strong, 


FISH  KILL.  lOp 

Enduring  steadfast  through  the  long 

Conflict  for  liberty  and  life. 

O  men  of  later  day,  whom  strife 

Successful  of  those  heroes  dead 

Enriched  with  land  and  freedom  wed 

To  civic  and  religious  right, 

Can  we  within  the  very  sight 

Of  hallowed  scenes  of  woe  like  these, 

Embowered  'mid  the  mountain  trees, 

With  bribes  and  drink  contaminate 

The  regulation  of  the  state  ? 

VII 

Onward,  downward,  the  traveler  fares, 
Whilst  Autumn's  changing  Nature  wears 
Her  gorgeous  gown  and  fading  face, 
Till  to  the  stream  he  turns  to  trace 
His  way,  when  on  his  raptured  sight 
The  hill-crowned  Hudson  comes  to  light, 
With  forts  and  warlike  armaments, 
And  shores  that  gleam  with  lines  of  tents, 
And  on  the  eastern  bank  he  leaves, 
Where  northward  rounding  Taurus  heaves 
Its  shaded  rocks  against  the  sky, 
Upon  the  circling  camp  his  eye 
May  glance  from  Table  Rock  around " 
To  Foundry  Cove — all  hallowed  ground. 


1 1 0  WA  SUING  TON. 


For  where  the  village  meets  the  bank 

A  spring  was  found,  and  there  they  drank 

In  olden  days,  e'en  Washington, 

'T  is  said,  who  slaking  thirst  at  one 

Cool  fount,  and,  drinking,  lingering 

Pronounced  it  a  very  cold  spring.7 

Upon  the  hillside  Butterfield,8 

The  General,  dwells,  who  lately  sealed 

Devotion  to  his  country's  good 

In  days  of  civil  war  with  blood 

He  risked  and  shed  on  many  fields. 

Spared,  May's  first  morn  fresh  honor  yields' 

To  him,  who  leads  the  pageantry 

Of  civic  worth  and  industry 

This  year  before  the  President,10 

And  summer  sees  him  represent 

The  triumph  of  our  arms  in  war 

Beside  imperial  Russia's  czar.11 

VIII 

Under  the  cliffs  of  Taurus  lies 

The  pillared  porch  of  Morris,  wise  ia 

In  days  gone  by  to  weave  the  strains 

For  singing  that  Erato  deigns 

To  love,  when  couched  in  ballad  verse. 

And  now  his  ashes  in  the  hearse 

Of  buried  nature  with  us  dwell 


FISHKILL.  1 1 1 

By  mountain  stream  he  loved  so  well. 

Where  troops  encamped  now  dwellings  rise, 

And  churchly  spires  point  toward  the  skies, 

Whilst  shops  infold  the  foliaged  streets. 

Below  in  foundry  cove  the  seats  13 

Of  skillful  toil  resound  with  stress 

Of  labor  moulding  stubbornness 

Of  iron  to  some  shrewd  design. 

Rebellion's  cannon  conquering  line 

Of  deadly  hail  here  deftly  cast 

Assisted  victory  at  last 

To  bring  our  struggling  arms,  and  keep 

United  still  the  land  whose  sweep 

Of  power  vast  the  dream  excels 

Of  revolution's  sentinels. 

Here  Kemble  planned,"  and  Parrott 15  wrought, 

And  Paulding's  entertaining  thought ie 

In  novels  cast  still  lingers  round 

The  hill  that  heard  war's  iron  sound. 


IX 


So  glanced  the  Marquis  o'er  the  scene 
Where  beauty  reigns  with  peace  serene ; 
And  as  he  passed  upon  his  way 
The  winter  fell  with  shortened  ray 
Of  waning  sun  that  waxes  bright 
Once  more  with  victory's  blest  light 


112  WASHINGTON. 


In  eighty-one's  auspicious  year. 
At  Morristown  and  Pompton  fear 
Of  mutiny  of  suffering  troops 
Is  overcome,  though  Clinton  stoops 
To  tempt  their  constancy  with  bribes, 
And  remedy  the  law  prescribes. 
Now  Arnold  with  a  force  ascends  " 
The  river  James,  and  fiercely  sends 
Destruction  o'er  Virginia's  land 
In  show  of  zeal  with  change  of  hand 
To  royal  cause  and  royal  sword. 
Relief  the  people  roused  afford 
The  state,  and  Lafayette  combines 
With  Gallia's  fleet  within  the  lines 
Of  trapping  war  the  fox  to  seize. 
'T  is  not  to  be ;  the  traitor  flees 
Unto  New  York  and  Philips  leaves 
The  red  destruction  to  fulfill, 
And  execute  the  royal  will. 

X 

Up  from  the  south  Cornwallis  moves 

Till  dashing  Tarleton  rashly  proves 

For  his  proud  chief  the  valorous  mood 

Of  Morgan's  troops  in  hardihood 

At  Cowpens  shown.     The  chieftain  springs  " 

To  prompt  pursuit,  but  Morgan  flings 


FISH  KILL.  113 

His  brave  retreating  host  across 

Catawba's  stream  too  soon,  and  loss 

Of  time  from  rain  the  Briton  holds, 

Till  Yadkin's  flood  our  men  infolds 

From  capture,  and  Greene  takes  command. 

Now  to  the  Dan  across  the  land 

They  rush,  and  blood  from  shoeless  feet 

Of  patriots  their  pathway  fleet 

With  fearful  tell-tale  stains  reveals, 

Till  passage  o'er  the  river  seals 

Awhile  for  them  security. 

Now  reinforced  futurity 

For  Greene  proclaims  advance  and  stand 

To  make  at  Guilford  Court  House,  planned 

By  Cornwallis  to  be  attacked. 

Defeat  befell ;  yet  the  Briton  tracked 

Him  not,  but  wounded  sore  made  way 

To  Wilmington  to  bide  his  day 

Beside  the  sea.     Defeat  again 

Befell  brave  Greene  near  Camden 

At  Rawdon's  hands  toward  April's  end, 

Nor  may  the  victory  descend 

Complete  on  him  at  Eutaw  Springs, 

September-fought,  but  halting  brings 

Him  to  the  high  hills  of  Santee 

Adjacent  to  the  sounding  sea. 


1 1 4  WA  SHING  TON. 


XI 


The  northern  chieftain  faithful  kept 

One  wintry  vigil  more,  nor  slept 

In  hopelessness,  for  dawn  drew  near. 

The  Martial  winds  were  blowing  drear  lu 

Across  these  fields,  when  eastward  rode 

The  chief  to  Newport,  and  abode 

Three  weeks  with  Gallia's  leaders  brave 

And  courteous,  planning  to  pave 

A  way  of  war  to  victory. 

May  bloomed  upon  their  bravery 

With  conference  at  Weathersfield, 

Connecticut,  and  planning  sealed 

The  orders  westward  to  advance. 

And  soon  the  gleaming  bayonets  glance 

On  Hudson's  eastern  stretching  shore 

Around  Dobb's  Ferry  and  before 

The  Bronx's  narrow,  shaded,  stream. 

Six  weeks,  till  mid-August,  the  dream 

Of  chivalry  American 

And  their  allies,  the  Gallican, 

Encamp  to  threaten  prompt  descent 

Upon  New  York;  and  word  was  sent 

To  Cornwallis  beside  the  sea 

To  march  and  rest  his  arms,  to  be 

Prepared  to  Clinton's  aid  to  sail. 

De  Grasse  now  writes  that  he  will  hail 


FISHKILL.  1 1 5 

Virginia's  coast  at  Chesapeake, 
And  landing  for  his  soldiers  seek. 
Southward  the  allied  host  must  fare, 
And  Cornwallis  encamped  ensnare. 
Below  us  a  short  way  very, 
Only  twelve  miles,  at  King's  Ferry, 
The  allies  cross  our  silver  stream 
On  march  triumphant,  whilst  foes  dream 
Attack  impending  upon  New  York. 
Through  Trenton,  Philadelphia,  work 
The  armies  brave  their  way,  till  all 
Too  late  the  fatal  schemings  fall 
Opened  on  Clinton's  mind  deceived. 
To  stop  the  march  a  plan  conceived 
Sent  Arnold  to  New  London  east20 
With  burning  massacre  to  feast 
Upon  the  state,  whose  cause  he  sought 
To  stab ;  but  all  in  vain ;  for  nought 
Could  turn  the  hand  of  history 
From  Yorktown's  shore  of  victory. 

XII 

September's  closing  days  beheld81 
The  British  Yorktown  host  compelled 
A  siege  to  stand.     De  Grasse  with  ships 
Shut  up  the  bay,  and  from  the  lips 
Of  Washington  and  Rochambeau 


I  1 6  WASHINGTON. 


Fell  orders  to  the  encircling  row 
Of  gathered  troops.     De  Lauzun  brave  M 
With  his  dragoons  across  the  wave 
On  Gloucester's  Point  completes  the  net. 
Approaches  made,  the  cannon  let 
Their  deadly  roaring  loose  to  crush 
The  works  and  hostile  firing  hush. 
Nearer  they  draw,  and  now  they  rush 
Upon  redoubts.     Against  the  one23 
Brave  Hamilton,  with  Fish,  Ogden," 
Laurens,  Gibbs,  and  Gimat  charges; 
Against  the  other  enlarges 
French  valor  for  the  commonweal, 
Led  by  the  Baron  Viomenil,"5 
Dumas,  De  Deuxponts,  De  Lameth, 
And  young  De  Sireuil,  doomed  to  death. 
Triumphant  valor  captures  all, 
Nor  can  a  dashing  sortie  fall 
Successful  on  the  nearing  lines. 
A.  dreadful  storm  blasts  the  designs 
By  Gloucester  to  escape  from  fate ; 
And  Clinton's  aid  has  sailed  too  late. 
Past  mid-October,  in  the  morn, 
Must  Cornwallis,  of  glory  shorn, 
To  parley  beat,  and  terms  accept, 
Surrendering  all,  by  vengeance  swept, 
A  name  disgraced,  a  fame  unwept. 


FISH  KILL.  1 1 7 

XIII 

The  nineteenth  of  October,  long 

Hoped  for,  saw  the  allied  ranks,  strong 

With  sixteen  marshaled  thousands,  ranged 

Beside  the  Hampton  road ;  and,  changed 

From  pomp  to  woe,  the  captive  host, 

Seven  thousand  strong,  with  humbled  boast, 

And  colors  cased,  and  drummers'  blare 

Of  music  in  a  British  air, 

At  two  o'clock  by  solar  light, 

O'Hara  leads  between  the  right "" 

Line  drawn  up  of  Americans 

And  left  array  of  Gallicans, 

Whilst  twenty  thousand  populace 

With  joyful  mien  surround  the  place. 

To  Washington  he  bows,  and  pleads 

Excuse  for  Cornwallis,  who  needs 

Seclusion  in  a  sheltering  tent, 

But  with  his  sword  O'Hara  sent. 

Then  Washington  to  Lincoln  waves  ar 

Him  for  directions  that  he  craves. 

So  Lincoln  led  them  to  the  field, 

And  there  O'Hara  meek  must  yield 

The  sword,  by  Lincoln  given  back. 

Following  in  their  chieftain's  track 

The  twenty-eight  captains  in  line, 

With  colors  cased,  must  now  consign 


1 1 8  WA  SHING  TON. 


The  standards  of  their  regiments 
To  twenty-eight  marshaled  sergeants 
Six  paces  from  their  rank  arrayed. 
The  transfer  gracefully  to  aid 
Between  them  stands  the  young  ensign 
Wilson,  youngest  officer  in  line, 
Who  takes  the  standard  from  each  hand, 
And  gives  it  to  the  sergeant  band. 
Then  arms  are  piled  upon  the  ground, 
Accouterments  laid  down;  and  sound 
Of  war  has  ceased.     The  ships  to  France 
Are  given,  and  warlike  stores  enhance 
The  treasures  of  the  allied  arms, 
Triumphant  'mid  the  war's  alarms. 

XIV 

A  hundred  years  had  passed  away 
Upon  the  land,  where  Yorktown's  ray 
Of  triumph  grand  with  glory  crowned 
Successful  all  the  patient  wound 
Of  steadfastness  the  modest  name 
Of  Fishkill  signifies  to  fame; 
And  on  that  same  peninsula 
Of  revolution's  weary  war 
McClellan  had  in  contest  sore 
Contended  for  a  union  more 
Prolonged  than  passion's  fury  wished. 


FISH  KILL.  II 

The  greater  nation,  from  the  famished 
Conflicts  emerged,  would  celebrate, 
With  foreign  guests  of  Gallia  great 
And  Brave  Germania,  the  weight 
Of  ancient  worth  and  valor  proved. 
With  oratory  it  behooved 
The  present  to  salute  the  past, 
A  monumental  base  to  cast, 
And  troops  parade  for  the  event 
Before  the  graceful  President, 
Who,  like  the  knightly  Arthur  told 
In  British  legend  writ  of  old, 
The  vanquished  foe  now  friendly  held, 
Would  bind  in  bands  that  kindreds  weld ; 
For  at  the  mandate  from  his  lips 
Upon  the  mastheads  of  our  ships 
The  British  standard  greets  the  breeze. 
And  now  the  gathered  wonder  sees 
The  yards  are  manned,  and  cannon  roar 
A  loud  salute  o'er  sea  and  shore, 
To  tell  the  world  the  ancient  strife 
Was  not  for  death  but  all  for  life 
And  peace  for  all  humanity 
In  keeping  Saxon  liberty. 


CANTO   SIXTH 

NEWBURGH 

I 

FOR  William  prince  of  Orange  famed, 
And  later  England's  king,  they  named 
A  county  by  the  Highland  stream,1 
And,  where  it  broadens  in  a  dream 
Of  bay-like  beauty,  England's  Queen, 
The  good  Queen  Anne,  whose  arms  had  been 
Assisted  by  Palatines  brave 
In  Europe's  wars,  a  refuge  gave 
To  their  distress,  when  fiercely  driven 
From  home  by  persecutions  given 
In  Louis'  harsh  religious  zeal." 
With  patents  from  the  royal  seal 
Foundations  of  a  town  they  lay, 
A  Newburgh  called,  and  on  the  Tay 
In  Scottish  land  near  high  Dundee, 
But  nearer  Perth  washed  by  the  sea, 


NEWBURGH.  121 


An  older  Newburgh  erst  was  made. 
But  weary  grown  the  Teutons  bade 
America's  Rhine  a  long  farewell, 
And  in  their  stead  there  came  to  dwell 
The  English,  Irish,  Huguenots, 
To  risk  their  scalps  and  crops  and  cots 
Amid  the  lurid  Indian's  yells, 
Whose  breast  with  raging  envy  swells. 


II 


The  heathen  aborigines 

Were  wont  to  hold  horrid  orgies 

Upon  Dans  Kamer's  Point  that  lay 

At  Northern  end  of  Newburgh  bay ; 

And  Bachtamo  their  god  adored, 

And  help  in  all  their  schemes  implored. 

When  to  the  hunt  or  war  about 

To  march,  here  first  they  hold  a  rout, 

Conjurers  turned  in  somersaults, 

Or  smote  themselves  for  all  their  faults, 

Leaped  round  the  blaze  in  maddened  gyre, 

Or  charged,  abandoned,  through  the  fire. 

Then  all  the  tribe  with  caterwaul 

Invoke  to  come  the  devil  foul, 

Whom  in  an  animal  they  see, 

If  ravenous,  bad  prodigy, 

If  innocent,  fair  augury. 


122  WASHINGTON. 


The  savages  with  warfare  sly 
Oft  scourged  the  settlers  doomed  to  die 
Beneath  their  hand,  and  Minnisink 
For  e'er  remains  a  dreaded  brink 
Of  massacre,  once  wrought  by  Brant. 
At  Goshen  now  a  shaft  extant 
Commemorates  the  whites  who  fell, 
Contesting  for  their  homes  right  well 
That  Julian  day  in  Seventy-nine,3 
Where  Delaware's  ravines  entwine 
Their  rocky  knolls  with  bosky  vine. 

Ill 

In  Orange  saw  the  Clintons  light, 
Immortal  trio,  George  who  right 4 
Wisely  as  governor  ruled  the  state, 
And  James  who  led  to  war's  debate  6 
The  soldiery,  sire  of  De  Witt,8 
His  greater  son,  chosen  to  sit 
As  chieftain  of  the  state,  and  plan 
The  great  canal,  now  free,  that  ran 
Between  Lake  Erie  and  the  sea. 
To  fight  the  royal  enemy 
The  people  raised  six  regiments. 
Du  Bois  as  colonel  brave  presents7 
The  continental  Fifth  in  line. 
From  Goshen  Allison  the  sign 


NEWBURGH.  123 


Of  valor  leads ;  from  Florida 

Come  Hathorn's  soldiers  to  the  war, 

And  Cornwall's  patriotic  host, 

By  Woodhull  led,  maintain  their  post. 

James  Clinton  heads  New  Windsor's  braves, 

And  o'er  the  Newburgh  warriors  waves 

The  sword  of  Hasbrouck  in  command — 

All  sworn  to  free  their  native  land. 

Quebec  and  Montreal  in  fight 

The  Orange  valor  bring  to  light ; 

Fort  Schuyler,  Saratoga's  field, 

And  Yorktown's  cape  fresh  honor  yield, 

And  in  the  annals  of  the  state 

Their  names  enroll  among  the  great. 


IV 


Where  Otterkill  its  waters  pours 
Upon  the  Hudson's  favored  shores, 
Now  Moodna  Creek  or  Murderer's  called, 
On  broad  Plum  Point  a  battery  walled  8 
And  armed  with  guns,  by  Machin  made, 
An  iron  chain  and  boom  surveyed 
That  stretched  across  to  Pollepel's  isle9 
To  close  the  stream  'gainst  force  or  guile. 
Below  the  Creek  Sloop  Hill  arose, 
Where  vessels  landed  their  cargoes, 
With  beacon  fires  illumed  at  night 


124  WASHINGTON. 


To  flash  the  news  along  with  light 
In  days  of  periled  freedom's  fight. 
West  of  New  Windsor  lay  the  Square 
With  mansions  round  about,  and  there 
The  generals  erst  their  quarters  placed. 
Greene,  Clinton,  Knox  and  St.  Clair  graced 
The  scene  with  Gates  and  La  Fayette, 
Whilst  in  the  village,  neighboring  yet, 
Had  Washington  his  quarters  set.10 


V 


In  prosperous  Newburgh,  toward  the  south, 

Above  Quassaic's  broadening  mouth, 

Lies  Hasbrouck's  house  with  gable  roof," 

Built  six  score  years  ago,  and  proof 

Against  the  gnawing  tooth  of  time. 

Within  its  walls  we  hear  the  chime 

Of  mellow  memories — the  shrewd 

Designs  of  patriots,  imbued 

With  yearnings  all  the  state  to  free, 

The  mustering  of  company 

And  regiment  that  marched  away 

To  swell  America's  array, 

E'en  valiant  Hasbrouck's  own  command 

To  help  emancipate  the  land. 

From  Philadelphia,  where  he  stayed 

The  Winter  after  Yorktown  made 


NEWBURGH.  \ 

Our  arms  victorious  in  war, 
Came  Washington  to  dwell  afar 
From  home  once  more  another  year, 
And  in  his  house  of  stone  from  fear 
And  danger  ward  the  waiting  state. 
Upon  the  stoop  the  Highland  gate 
And  stream  he  might  with  ease  survey, 
And  mountain  range  across  the  Bay. 
Within,  the  room  of  seven  doors 
And  single  window,  where  fire  roars 
In  huge  recess,  a  welcome  gave 
To  peaceful  guests  and  warriors  brave. 


VI 


While  discontent  stole  through  the  host, 

Encamped  around  these  hills,  and  boast 

Of  mutiny  was  murmuring  heard, 

Redress  from  Congress  seemed  absurd, 

And  violence  appeared  the  way 

To  wrest  just  treatment  from  delay. 

In  Pennsylvania's  ranks  enrolled 

Led  Lewis  Nicola  in  bold 

Array  of  arms  a  regiment, 

Who  in  the  bloom  of  May  had  sent " 

A  missive  to  the  chief  revered. 

In  which  he  pondered  on  the  feared 

Stability  of  government 


126  WASHINGTON. 


Republican,  to  represent 

Advantages  of  monarchy, 

The  English  one  particularly, 

And  urge  with  gentle  hint  made  plain 

The  kingly  title  and  the  reign 

Majestic  for  the  chief  addressed. 

But  Washington  such  schemes  repressed 

With  patriotic  promptitude, 

Rebuking  all  such  hardihood, 

Injurious  to  the  struggling  state. 

Unlike  ambitious  Caesar,  great 

In  war,  who  thrice  refused  a  crown, 

A  single  nay  enough  renown 

Brought  him,  who  played  no  pompous  part, 

But  showed  mankind  an  honest  heart. 

VII 

The  camps  amid  the  Highland  hills 
Columbia's  resting  army  fills, 
While  Frank  allies  the  Winter  pass 
Within  Virginia's  lines,  alas! 
The  keeper,  too,  with  Maryland, 
Of  Britain's  second  lost  command. 
Revolving  time  the  summer  brings, 
And  Northward  Gallia's  army  wings 
Its  homeward  way  across  the  lea. 
Their  brave  allies  once  more  to  see 


NEWBURGH.  12? 

And  bid  farewell  and  fond  Godspeed, 

Columbia's  soldiers,  valiant  breed 

Of  foemen  armed,  to  Peekskill  wend 

Their  way  by  road  or  boat,  descend 

Upon  Verplanck's  high  pointed  shore, 

And  wait  their  martial  guests  before 

The  bay  that  like  Lake  Como  seems. 

With  ordered  tents  the  landscape  gleams. 

September's  speeding  fortnight  beams 

Upon  the  serried  martial  lives, 

When  Rochambeau  the  brave  arrives, 

His  welcome  host  in  arms  to  lead 

'Twixt  dual  lines  that  orders  heed, 

Arranging  them  from  ferry  pier 

To  quarters  of  the  chieftain  near. 

The  right  wing  under  Gates  is  ranked 

In  two  divisions  closely  flanked. 

In  one  McDougall  leads  again  IS 

Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut's  men, 

And  in  the  other  Scotch  St.  Clair " 

With  New  York  and  New  Jersey's  pair 

Of  bold  brigades,  four  regiments, 

Deployed  in  steady  line,  presents. 

The  left  wing  stands  with  sturdy  Heath,16 

With  one  division  ranged  beneath 

The  sabre  in  Lord  Stirling's  hand,16 

From  Massachusetts'  eastern  land 

And  bleak  New  Hampshire's  mountains  grand, 


128  W 'A  SUING  TON. 


Whilst  Howe's  division  is  complete  17 
With  men  from  Massachusetts,  meet 
To  start  the  war,  and  victory  greet. 
All  uniformed  and  armed  they  rest, 
Five  thousand  strong,  to  hail  the  guest 
Of  Gallia  lingering  in  the  West. 

VIII 

Up  from  the  strand  the  Frenchmen  come, 
With  banners  flying,  sound  of  drum, 
And  martial  music,  horses'  stamp, 
Artillery  rumbling,  and  the  tramp 
Of  ordered  thousands,  bright  arrayed. 
De  Lauzun's  legion  undismayed, 
With  Viome"nil's  light  infantry, 
Appears,  the  flower  of  Gallic  chivalry, 
Whose  regiments  are  marching  on, 
With  Montmorenci,  De  Deux  Fonts, 
Wounded  at  the  Yorktown  redoubt, 
And  Custine,  leading  them  'mid  shout 
Of  victory.     At  Crompond,  near  18 
Mohegan  and  Mohansic's  mere 
Of  dual  waters  beautiful, 
The  French  encamp ;  and  dutiful 
To  Mars  the  allied  hosts  review 
Their  mutual  lines,  marshaled  in  true 
Allegiance  to  the  warlike  art. 


NEWBURGH.  12$ 


Nor  are  there  lacking  to  the  heart 

Of  patriotic  chivalry 

The  rites  of  hospitality 

And  joyous  round  of  courtesy, 

To  celebrate  the  victory. 

IX 

A  month  they  spend  in  social  joy, 
When  toward  October's  end  with  coy  I9 
And  envious  wing  the  flight  of  Time 
The  allies  sundered  from  the  clime 
By  stream  and  mountain  beautified. 
Eastward  the  army  dignified 
By  Rochambeau's  wise  leadership 
In  perfect  order  marched.      'Mid  drip 
And  pour  of  rain  our  soldiers  strike 
Their  tents,  and  follow  the  turnpike 
O'er  Sachoes'  brook  and  toilsome  hill 20 
To  Redoubt  mountain  wood,  where  still 
The  pleasing  forest  shades  the  eye. 
All  night  beneath  the  heavens  they  lie 
At  Garrisons,  till  morning  light 
With  dawn  salutes  their  waking  sight 
And  rouses  them  the  stream  to  cross. 
Their  journey  meets  no  loitering  loss 
As  up  the  Butter  Hill  they  press, 
And  though  another  night  caress 


1 30  WA  SHING  TON. 


The  couch  and  pillow  of  the  ground, 

The  morning's  rise  and  march  have  found 

At  New  Windsor  the  camp  regained. 

So  left  they  ancient  Peekskill,  drained 

Of  all  that  grand  array,  the  forts 

And  lookouts  toward  the  bay,  and  sports 

Of  international  delight. 

Now  to  Fort  Independence  site 21 

The  soldiers  of  the  state  repair 

In  summer  months  the  garb  to  wear 

And  arms  to  use  of  warlike  drill, 

And  keep  alive  our  martial  skill ; 

Whilst  from  the  village  near  to  view, 

Where  matchless  Whitefield's  preaching  threw" 

A  saving  charm  o'er  sinners  called, 

And  all  his  listeners  enthralled, 

Doth  silver  speech  her  power  renew 

.In  world-famed  Chauncey  M.  Depew.38 


X 


So  rested  in  their  winter  camp 

The  army,  and  with  reflection  stamp 

Unbearable  their  tardy  pay. 

To  their  memorial  delay 

And  empty  promises  are  given 

By  the  Congress,  till  onward  driven 

A  mutiny  seems  ripe  and  near. 


NEWBURGH.  131 


Bold  Armstrong  calls  a  meeting  here 

Within  the  camp  of  officers 

For  measures  as  occasion  offers. 

But  Washington  censures  the  call" 

Disorderly,  and  to  forestall 

Disaster  bids  the  chieftains  meet. 

With  words  dignified  and  discreet 

And  sympathetic  the  revolt 

In  bud  he  nips,  and  spent  the  bolt 

Seditious  falls.     Wise  words  enhance  a6 

Again  the  stoop  of  Hasbrouck's  manse, 

Where  he  the  speech  of  power  writ, 

As  rosy  June  there  sees  him  sit, 

And  governors  of  the  states  address 

Upon  the  prevalent  distress 

Throughout  the  body  politic, 

With  feeble  constitution  sick. 

In  later  day  a  gifted  child 

Of  letters  hath  in  Idlewild 

With  rhythmic  power  brought  delight, 

As  Willis  thrilled  his  lyre,  and  sight " 

Of  Highland  scenes  with  golden  glow 

Illumed  the  storied  page  of  Roe." 

XI 

Peace !  peace !  for  this  the  warring  world 
Contends  and  waits.     The  flag,  unfurled 


132  WA  SUING  TON. 


In  blood  at  Lexington,  eight  years"8 

Thereafter  at  Newburgh  appears 

With  peaceful  acclamations  hailed. 

In  diplomatic  Paris  failed 

Not  our  statesmen  to  negotiate 

The  independence  of  the  state. 

Adams,  Franklin,  Jay,  and  Laurens  "" 

Write  peace  and  greatness  with  their  pens 

For  us,  while  Oswald,  Fitzherbert 30 

And  Strachey  sign  for  Britain's  hurt 

And  weal  the  day  November  ends.31 

Concord,  white-winged,  her  journey  wends 

Westward,  and  Congress,  glad  at  peace 

Bids  tell,  Hostilities  shall  cease. 

The  army  lines  the  Hudson's  banks 

With  burnished  arms  in  serried  ranks, 

And  banners  floating  in  the  air. 

Arms  they  present,  and  lo !  the  blare 

Of  cannon  roars  reverberant 

From  West  Point  near,  with  fiery  chant 

Of  joy  in  musket  volleys  rolled 

Along  the  lines.     The  camp  a  fold 

Of  worshippers  in  Temple  walls  32 

Becomes ;  in  prayer  lowly  knelt  falls 

The  reverent  host,  whilst  Gano  prays," 

Adoring  the  Ancient  of  Days, 

Jehovah  Saboath,  God  of  victory. 

The  supplication  ended,  see! 


NEWBURGH.  133 


The  risen  host  with  music  stilled, 

As  Billings'  joyous  anthem  thrilled  " 

The  balmy  April  peaceful  air. 

The  speeding  day  the  patriots  wear 

Away  with  feasts  and  social  joy, 

Till  Eve  her  mantle  gathers  coy 

And  sombre  round  Day's  loveliness. 

Up  from  the  south  the  warning  stress 

Of  booming  cannon  sounds  to  arms, 

And  thrice  along  the  line  the  charms 

Of  martial  joy  in  lightning  flash 

Are  loudly  peaied  around  to  dash 

In  thundered  waves  upon  the  hills, 

Whilst  ruby  light  the  heaven  fills. 

Forth  from  the  shrouded  mountain  peaks 

Each  beacon  fire  its  message  speaks 

No  more  of  danger  but  of  peace. 

Nor  shall  the  glowing  summits  cease 

To  light  and  cheer  till  they  have  rolled 

Their  radiance  with  tidings  told 

From  town  to  town,  from  state  to  state, 

From  Newburgh  at  the  Highland  gate 

To  Lexington  the  famed  and  great, 

Where  sturdy  patriots  took  their  stand, 

And  fired  the  shot  that  freed  the  land. 


1 34  W 'A  SHING  TON. 


XII 

With  white-winged  peace  to  war  farewell  ! 

Now  dissolution  sounds  the  knell 

Of  old  association  strong 

And  precious  for  the  army  long 

Enrolled  and  led  to  conflict  fierce, 

Or  steadfast  when  disasters  pierce 

The  waiting  heart.     To  keep  alive 

These  memories,  though  peace  may  drive 

O'er  all  the  land  dispersed  the  sons 

Of  Mars,  the  chieftains  meet  by  Hudson's 

Broad  stream  at  Steuben's  quarters,  placed 

In  Verplanck's  house  that  Fishkill  faced, 

And  organize  a  band  maintained 

To-day  by  their  first-born.     They  feigned  s 

No  secret  purpose  proud,  averse 

To  liberty,  but  would  rehearse 

The  cause  of  freedom,  foster  love 

Of  union,  honor,  and  above 

The  lapse  of  time  a  brotherhood. 

A  name  revered  of  hardihood 

In  danger,  but  in  peace  return 

To  civic  toil,  they  choose,  and  learn 

From  Roman  Cincinnatus  grand  38 

To  save  and  serve  a  grateful  land. 

Their  chosen  president  is  one 

Like  him  of  old,  e'en  Washington. 


NEWBURGH.  135 


XIII 

Now  Newburgh,  shorn  of  olden  arms, 

Adorns  herself  with  growing  charms, 

And  Hasbrouck's  house  as  sacred  keeps.87 

There  Uzal  Knapp,  last  guardsman,  sleeps 

In  honor  near  the  staff,  where  Scott 

Flung  to  the  breeze  the  flag,  whose  spot 

Of  slavery  has  been  erased. 

A  hundred  years  increasing  graced 

The  land  with  power,  but  unforgot 

The  Highland  memories  slumber  not. 

The  solid  tower  of  victory 

Commemorates  the  chivalry 

And  prose  and  verse,  the  pageantry, 

That  celebration  kept  of  days' 

Past  excellence  that  passes  praise. 

And  in  that  year  a  social  bond  88 

Was  knit  of  recollection  fond 

And  patriotic  by  the  sons 

Of  Revolution  Washingtons. 

XIV 

With  remnants  of  the  famous  host 
The  hero  leads  to  Southern  coast 
And  city  by  the  sea  the  way 
Victorious,  as  Britain's  day 


136  WA  SUING  TON. 

Of  power  wanes,  and  darkling  sets. 
And  in  New  York  his  farewell  wets 
The  eyes  of  all  with  painful  tears. 
Before  the  Congress  he  appears 
To  lay  his  sword,  and  then  retires 
At  home  to  rest,  until  desires 
Of  union  and  of  government 
Recall  the  chief  to  represent 
The  nation  in  the  chair  of  state. 
Secure  foundations  of  the  great 
And  glorious  future  he  had  laid, 
When  Time's  fast  flight  but  a  decade 
Of  brief  years  had  encircling  sped, 
And  taken  from  the  land  its  head. 
A  halo  rests  round  his  person, 
And  Freedom  knows  one  Washington.1 


NOTES  TO  CANTO  FIRST 


1.  Stanza  /,  line  6.     The  inauguration  of  Washington  as 
President  of  the  United  States,  in  New  York  City,  April  30, 
1789,  marked  the  practical  commencement  of  a  more  efficient 
constitutional,  federal  union  among  the  thirteen  United  States 
oi  America.     The  Constitution  took  the  place  of  the  imperfect 
Articles  of  Confederation,  which  were  adopted  by  the  Conti 
nental  Congress,  Nov.  15,  1777,  but  did  not  go  into  operation 
until  March  2,  1781.     The  war  for  independence  was  begun 
and  prosecuted  by  the    Continental  Congress,    composed   of 
delegates  from  the  various  states.     The  first  Congress  met  in 
Philadelphia,  Sept.    5,   1774,  and   the  second   May   10,  1775. 
These  bodies  exercised  national  powers  with  the  hearty  consent 
of  the  people  at  large. 

2.  Stanza  2.     The  second  stanza  begins  the  enumeration  of 
those    historic  forces  which    have    contributed  to  the    devel 
opment  of  civilization  and  freedom  in   America.     Hebraic  re 
ligion,  Grecian  art,  philosophy,  and  politics,  Roman  rule  and 
law  (Stanza  3),  and  Germanic  customs  and  chivalry  (Stanza  4), 
are  successively  presented. 

j.  Stanza  5.  The  assistance  of  commerce  and  invention  is 
here  acknowledged,  and  in  the  succeeding  stanza  the  service  of 
Columbus  is  characterized. 

4.  Stanza  6,  line  17.  Christopher  Columbus,  discoverer  of 
137 


138  WASHINGTON. 


America,  was  born  in  Genoa,  Italy,  about  1435,  the  eldest  son 
of  a  cloth  weaver,  Domenico  Columbo,  of  Genoa.  Sent  to 
the  University  of  Pavia  at  the  age  of  ten,  he  studied  books  of 
cosmography,  history,  philosophy,  and  other  sciences  having  a 
bearing  on  navigation.  Later  he  served  twenty  years  in  the 
Genoese  marine.  Shipwrecked  when  thirty-five,  he  proceeded 
to  Lisbon,  where  his  brother  Bartholommeo  was  settled  as  a 
designer  of  charts.  He  remained  in  Portugal  until  1484,  sup 
ported  himself  by  drawing  charts,  made  occasional  voyages  in 
the  Atlantic,  and  married  Felipa  Monis  de  Palestrello,  the 
daughter  of  a  distinguished  Italian  navigator.  The  subject  of 
a  western  passage  to  India  being  then  discussed,  Columbus 
matured  views  to  the  effect  that  the  earth  is  spherical,  that 
Asia  extended  to  the  parallel  now  indicated  by  180°  E.  from 
Greenwich  (the  longitude  of  Behring  Sea  and  New  Zealand), 
that  only  a  navigable  ocean  intervened,  not  more  than  one- 
third  of  the  earth's  circumference.  Applying  for  aid  to  Genoa, 
he  was  refused,  and  to  Portugal,  he  was  delayed  (1474-1484). 
He  left  Lisbon  in  1484,  and  proceeded  along  the  sea-coast  to 
Palos,  Spain,  where  he  was  befriended  at  a  Franciscan  monas 
tery.  Further  applications  to  Genoa  and  Venice  were  unsuc 
cessful.  Columbus  now  turned  to  the  Spanish  court,  and  an 
ecclesiastical  commission  at  Salamanca  considered  his  project, 
and  at  last  reported  adversely  in  1491.  He  next  resolved  to 
lay  his  project  before  Charles  VIII.  of  France,  but  the  prior  of 
the  monastery  at  Palos,  convinced  of  the  proofs,  interceded 
with  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  of  Spain,  and  secured  him  an 
interview.  His  demand  of  powers  was  refused,  and  he  de 
parted  from  Cordova,  but  was  recalled,  and  Isabella  offered  to 
pawn  the  crown  jewels  to  meet  the  necessary  expenses  of  the 
expedition.  An  agreement  was  signed  at  Santa  Fe,  April  17, 
1492,  and  Columbus  fitted  out  his  expedition  at  Palos  in  three 
months.  There  were  three  ships.  Columbus  commanded  the 
Santa  Maria,  a  decked  vessel,  of  ninety  feet  keel,  with  four 
masts,  Martin  Alonzo  Pin/on  the  Pinta,  and  Vincent  Yanez 


NOTES    TO   CANTO   FIRST.  139 


Pinzon  the  Nina — both  caravals,  or  undecked  boats.  The 
ships  were  provisioned  for  a  year  and  carried  one  hundred  and 
twenty  souls.  They  sailed  from  the  roads  of  Saltez,  near  Palos, 
Friday  morning,  Aug.  3,  1492,  left  the  Canaries  Sept.  6th, 
and,  after  various  vicissitudes  of  storm,  mutiny,  and  imagined 
discovery,  the  Bahaman  island  of  San  Salvador  was  discovered 
Friday,  Oct.  12,  1492,  at  two  o'clock  A.M.,  by  Rodrigo  Triana, 
a  sailor  of  the  Pinta.  Columbus  took  possession  of  the  island, 
and,  later,  of  Cuba  and  Hayti.  He  returned  to  Palos  March 
15,  1493.  On  his  second  expedition,  which  sailed  with  seven 
teen  ships  from  Cadiz,  Sept.  34,  1493,  he  discovered  Jamaica 
and  Porto  Rico,  and  founded  a  colony  in  Hayti.  He  returned 
to  Cadiz  Tune  n,  1496.  Me  sailed  on  his  third  voyage  with 
six  ships,  May  30,  1498,  and  discovered  the  Orinoco  River. 
Arrested  on  account  of  the  difficulties  that  had  arisen  in  the 
colony  at  Hayti,  he  was  sent  to  Spain.  Released,  he  was 
given  command  of  four  caravels,  with  which  he  sailed  from 
Cadiz  May  9,  1502,  coasted  the  south  side  of  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  and  returned  home  Nov.  7,  1504.  His  claims  for 
redress  were  denied,  and  at  seventy  years  of  age  he  died  in 
poverty  at  Valladolid,  Spain,  May  20,  1506.  His  remains 
were  transferred  to  the  Carthusian  monastery  of  Las  Cuevas, 
1513,  to  the  cathedral  of  St.  Domingo,  1536,  and  to  the  cathe 
dral  of  Havana,  1796,  where  they  now  repose.  The  word 
Columbus  is  from  Columba,  a  dove  (Gen.  viii.,  12).  Christo 
pher  means  Bearer  of  Christ,  which  in  the  form  Chrestes  sig 
nified  worth.  See  Tertullian's  Apology,  3,  and  Lactantius, 


5.  Stanza  8.  The  events  alluded  to  are  King  Arthur's 
reign,  who  fell  in  battle  in  Cornwall  542,  having  defeated 
Cerdic,  the  Saxon,  twelve  times  ;  William's  victory  at  Hast 
ings,  Oct.  14,  1066  ;  Magna  Charta  granted  by  King  John  to 
the  English  barons  June  15,  1215  ;  the  organization  of  the 
English  Parliament,  1265  ;  the  Anglo-French  wars,  1346- 
1450 ;  the  war  of  the  Roses,  1460-1486 ;  the  fall  of  the 


140  WASHINGTON. 


papacy  in  England  by  the  Act  of  Supremacy,  Nov.  3,  1534, 
which  declared  Henry  VIII.  to  be  the  Supreme  Head  of  the 
Church.  Charles  I.  was  executed  Jan.  30,  1649,  the  victim  of 
a  conspiracy  of  military  officers.  Cromwell's  protectorate 
lasted  from  Dec.  16,  1653,  until  his  death,  Sept.  3,  1658. 

6.  Stanza   8,    line   17.      Benjamin  Harrison,    twenty-third 
President  of  the  United  States,   is  the  grandson  of  William 
Henry  Harrison,  ninth  President  of  the  United  States,  and  son 
of  Benjamin  Harrison,  who  was  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  and  twice  governor  of  Virginia.     This  Benjamin 
Harrison,  1740-1791,  is  reputed  to  be  descended  from  Major- 
General   Harrison,  who  was  prominent  in  Cromwell's  army, 
one  of  the  protector's  advisers,  one  of  the  triers  of  Charles  I., 
1649,   for  which  he  was  executed  under  Charles  II.,   1660. 
The  English  revolution  of  1689  expelled  the  despotic  house  of 
Stuart,  and  introduced  the   Hanoverian  succession  based  on 
the  Act  of  Settlement. 

7.  Stanza  g.      Sir  Walter  Raleigh  obtained  his  patent  from 
Queen  Elizabeth,  and  sent  out  expeditions  to  America  in  1584, 
1585,  1586,   1587,   1595,  and  1617.     King  James  confiscated 
his  patent,   1603,  and  granted  the  lands  to  the  London  and 
Plymouth  Companies.   The  London  Company  settled  Virginia 
at  Jamestown,  1607.     The  Puritans  settled  in  Massachusetts, 
1620,  without  knowledge  of  the  Plymouth  Company  or    the 
King.     George  Calvert,   Lord  Baltimore,  obtained  Maryland 
as  a  grant  from  Charles  I,  in  1632.     The  charter  made  out  to 
his  son,  Cecil  Calvert,  secured  to  freemen  in  America  a  voice 
in  the  making  of  the  laws,  and  made  no  distinction  in  favor 
of  any  Christian  sect. 

The  Dutch  settled  in  New  York  and  Albany  about  1614. 
The  New  England  colonies  formed  an  union  1643  for  mutual 
protection  against  the  Dutch,  French,  and  Indians.  The  plan 
of  colonial  union  in  1754  failed,  but  the  colonists  assisted  in 
gaining  Canada  from  the  French,  1759.  The  Whig  aristocracy 
of  England  sought  to  impose  the  burden  of  war  expenses  upon 


NOTES    TO    CANTO  FIRST.  141 


the  colonists,  and  the  Stamp  Act  was  passed  in  pursuance  of 
this  policy,  1765.  The  principle  of  taxation  without  represen 
tation,  thus  involved,  precipitated  the  loud  debate  in  which 
Samuel  Adams,  1722-1803,  Patrick  Henry,  1736-1799,  and 
Benjamin  Franklin,  1706-1790,  were  conspicuous. 

8.  Stanza  10.  Delegates  from  nine  colonies  met  in  New 
York  in  October,  1765,  and  passed  the  "  Declaration  of 
Rights."  The  second  colonial  Congress  of  twelve  colonies  met 
at  Philadelphia  Sept.  5,  1774,  and  recommended  the  sus 
pension  of  all  commercial  intercourse  with  Great  Britain. 

g.  Stanza  n.  The  family  to  which  George  Washington 
belonged  is  traced  in  England  to  the  twelfth  century  (one  cen 
tury  after  William  won  the  crown  at  Hastings,  1066),  and  to 
the  county  of  Durham,  where  William  de  Hertburn  exchanged 
his  estate,  Hartbarn  on  the  Tees,  for  that  of  Wessyngton  or 
Washington.  John  Washington  was  knighted  by  James  I.  in 
1623,  and  was  loyal  to  Charles  I.  This  led  to  emigration  with 
his  brother  Lawrence  to  Virginia,  about  1650.  He  settled  in 
Westmoreland  County,  between  the  Potomac  and  Rappahan- 
nock  Rivers.  By  his  second  wife,  Ann  Pope,  he  had  a  son 
Lawrence.  Lawrence  married  Mildred  Warner,  by  whom  he 
had  a  son  Augustine,  the  father  of  General  George  Washing 
ton.  Augustine  married  as  second  wife  Mary  Ball.  George, 
their  eldest  son,  was  born  Feb.  22,  1732,  in  a  house  situated 
half  a  mile  from  the  junction  of  Pope's  Creek  with  the  Po 
tomac.  A  stone  now  marks  the  spot  where  the  house  stood. 
Augustine  Washington  died  1743.  His  widow  reared  her 
family  on  the  estate  below  Fredericksburg.  Lawrence  Wash 
ington,  half  brother  of  General  George  Washington,  served  as 
captain  with  Admiral  Vernon  in  the  unsuccessful  expedition 
against  Carthagena,  near  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  1740,  and 
named  his  estate  on  the  Potomac  Mount  Vernon  in  honor  of 
the  admiral.  Lawrence  and  George  made  a  voyage  to  Barba 
dos,  Sept.  1751,  where  the  latter  was  attacked  with  small-pox, 
from  which  he  was  slightly  marked  through  life.  Lawrence 


142  WASHINGTON. 


died  on  his  return  to  America,  1752,  and  the  estate  of  Mount 
Vernon  was  given  to  George.  By  inheritance  and  by  success 
ful  business  management,  George  Washington  was,  at  the  out 
break  of  the  revolution,  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  America. 
At  the  time  of  Braddock's  fatal  expedition  against  Fort  du 
Quesne,  1755,  Washington  in  vain  warned  the  commander  of 
the  danger  of  Indian  warfare.  When  Braddock  fell,  he  rallied 
the  Virginian  troops,  and  covered  the  retreat  of  the  regulars. 

10.  Stanza  12.    Four  British  regiments  were  sent  to  Boston, 
Sept.,  1768.     The  soldiers  fired  on  a  crowd  and  killed  three 
persons,  March  5,  1770.     A  tax  remaining  on  tea,  some  fifty 
men  in  disguise    boarded    tea-vessels  at  Boston,    and   threw 
the  chests  into  the  water,  Dec.  16,  1773.     For  this  the  port 
was  closed  June  i,  1774.     An  expedition  of  British  troops  to 
Concord  and  Lexington,  near  Boston,  to  destroy  patriot  stores, 
resulted  in  a  bloody  skirmish,  and  a  disastrous  retreat  for  the 
British,  April  19,  1775.     The  Americans  invested  Boston,  and 
the  British  dislodged  them  from  their  position  on  Bunker  Hill, 
June  17,  1775,  but  with  great  loss  to  themselves. 

11.  Stanza  ij,   line  5.      New   Amsterdam,   settled  by  the 
Dutch,   1614-1619,  was  surrendered  to  the  English,  1664,  and 
became  New  York. 

12.  Stanza  14,  line  JTJ.     In  Irving's  History  of  New  York 
the  voyage  of  Governor  Peter  Stuyvesant  up  the  Hudson  is  de 
scribed,  during  which  the  nose  of  Antony  Van  Corlear  reflected 
a  sunbeam  into  the  water  and  killed  a  mighty  sturgeon  that 
was  sporting  beside  the  vessel.     The  bluff,  from  behind  which 
the  sun  broke,  was  therefore  called  by  the  Governor  Antony's 
Nose. 

ij.  Stanza  14,  line 34.  Martelar  was  the  name  of  a  French 
family  that  lived  on  Constitution  Island,  opposite  West  Point, 
about  1720.  The  rocks  named  for  them  rise  abruptly  from  the 
river  over  one  hundred  feet. 

14.  Stanza  14,  line  40.  The  heights  of  these  Highlands  are 
as  follows,  ascending  from  south  to  north  : 


NOTES    TO   CANTO  FIRST.  143 


Left  Side.  Right  Side. 

Dunderberg,  1098  feet. 

Manitou  Mt.,  1000  feet. 
Bear  Hill,  1350  feet. 

Anthony's  Nose,  1128  feet. 

Sugar  Loaf,  865  feet. 

Redoubt  Mt.,  800  feet. 
Independence  Mt.,  600  feet. 
Old  Cro'  Nest,  1428  feet. 

Mt.  Taurus,  1438  feet. 

Storm  King,  1529  feet. 

Breakneck,  1187  feet. 
Beacon  Hill,  1685  feet. 

75".  Stanza  ib,  line  2.  Bernard  Romans,  who  planned  the 
works,  was  an  English  engineer,  who  at  that  time  held  the 
same  office  in  the  British  army. — Lossing's  Field  Book  of  the 
Rev.,  i.,  703. 

16.  Stanza  19.  These  visits  to  Constitution  Island  took 
place  in  1776.  Bancroft,  United  States,  v.,  76. 

if.  Stanza  20,  line  7.  Henry  \V.  Warner,  of  the  New  York 
bar,  bought  Constitution  Island  in  1836.  His  daughters, 
Susan  (b.  1818)  and  Anna  B.,  were  authors  of  a  series  of  semi- 
religious  novels,  which  had  an  extraordinary  sale.  Susan  died 
1885.  The  titles  of  a  number  of  their  works  are  given  in  the 
stanza. 

18.  Stanza  22,  line  6.  The  dividing  line  between  Rockland 
County  on  the  south  and  Orange  County  on  the  north  meets  the 
Hudson  at  Poplopen's  Creek.  The  remains  of  Fort  Clinton 
are  on  the  grounds  of  Mr.  Stevens  ;  those  of  Fort  Montgomery 
on  the  grounds  of  Mr.  Pell. 

ic).  Stanza  23,  line  3.  Ethan  Allen  and  Benedict  Arnold 
captured  the  British  post  at  Ticonderoga  May  10,  1775. 
Arnold  and  Montgomery's  expedition  to  Canada  ended  dis 
astrously,  Dec.  31,  1775. 

20.  Stanza  24.  The  siege  of  Boston  ended  with  the  exit  of 
the  British,  March  17,  1776. 


1 44  WA  SHING  TON. 


21.  Stanza  25.     The  attack  on  Fort  Moultrie,  Charleston, 
S.  C.,  failed  June  28,  1776. 

22.  Stanza  26,  line  fj.     July  was  named  for  Julius  Caesar 
the  year  after  the  dictator's  death,  B.C.  43.     Its  former  name 
was  Quinct'ilis,  or  Fifth  Month. 

23.  Stanza  27.     The  Battle  of  Long  Island  was  fought  Aug. 
27,   1776.     Washington  retreated  to  New  York  the  night  of 
Aug.  29th.     Capt.   Nathan  Hale  crossed   to  Long  Island  to 
obtain  information  of  the  British  plans,  was  arrested  on  sus 
picion,  and  executed  without  trial,   Sept.   22d.     The  British 
crossed  to  New  York,  and  were  resisted  at  Harlem,  Sept.  i6th. 
The  affair  at  White  Plains  took  place  Oct.  28.     Washington 
crossed  the  Hudson  at  King's  Ferry,   Peekskill,  and  joined 
General  Greene  at  Fort  Lee,  Nov.  I3th.     The  Hessians  took 
Fort  Washington,  opposite,  Nov.  i6th.    Lord  Cornwallis  hav 
ing  crossed  the   Hudson    Nov.    2oth,    Washington    retreated 
across  New  Jersey,  and  entered  Pennsylvania,  Dec.  8th. 

24.  Stanza   28.      Washington   surprised   the    Hessians   at 
Trenton    Dec.   25th.     Retreating  toward  Princeton,  his   ad 
vance  guard  under  General  Mercer  met  the  British,   Jan.  3, 
1777.     The  Battle  of  Brandy  wine,   near  Wilmington,   Del., 
was    fought    Sept.    nth,   that    of   Germantown,    near    Phila 
delphia,  Oct.  4th.    Valley  Forge,  where  the  Americans  estab 
lished  winter  quarters,  was  on  the  Schuylkill   River,  twenty 
miles  northeast  of  Philadelphia. 


NOTES  TO  CANTO  SECOND 


1.  Stanza  /,  line  75.     The  Six  Nations  were  the  tribes  of  the 
Mohawks,    Onondagas,    Oneidas,    Senecas,    Cayugas,    Tusca- 
roras,  who  were  long  time  allied  and  known  as  the  Five  Na 
tions,  until  in  1714  the  Tuscaroras  of  North  Carolina  joined 
the  confederacy.     This  was  then  styled  the  Six  Nations.     The 
great  council  fire  was  kept  burning  by  the  Onondagas.     This 
confederacy  was  a  terror  to  the  other  Indian  tribes.     Lossing's 
Field  Book  of  the  Rev.,  i.,  109.     Burgoyne,  the  British  gen 
eral,  aided  also  by  the  Hessian  hirelings,  advanced  from  St. 
John's,  June  15,  1777. 

2.  Stanza   2.     The  Americans,  under  St.  Clair,  abandoned 
Ticonderoga  July  5th.     Fort  Edward  on  the  Hudson  was  the 
headquarters  of  the  Army  of  the  North  under  Major-General 
Philip  Schuyler,  who  adopted  a  Fabian  policy  of  delay. 

3.  Stanza  j,  line  i.     The  murder  of  Jane  McCrea  (see  stanza 
19,  line  19)  occurred  July  27,   1777.     See  Bancroft,    United 
States,  v. ,  164. 

4.  Stanza  j,  line  21.     Colonel  St.  Leger  with  a  force  made  a 
diversion  in   the    Mohawk   Valley.      He  laid  siege  to   Fort 
Schuyler,  now  Rome,  Aug.  3,  1777.     General  Herkimer,  ad 
vancing  to  relieve  the  fort,  fell  at  Oriskany,  six  miles  distant, 
Aug.  6th. 

3.  Stanza  j,  line  2j.    Colonels  Baum  and  Breyman  and  their 


1 46  WA  SHING  TON. 


forces  were  defeated  at  Bennington,  Vt.,  by  Colonel  Stark 
and  Colonel  Warner  and  the  militia  of  New  Hampshire, 
Vermont,  and  Massachusetts,  Aug.  16,  1777. 

6.  Stanza  j,  line  42.     Gen.  Horatio  Gates  wasborn  in  Eng 
land,  1728,  was  made  brigadier  1775,  superseded  Schuyler  in 
command  of  the  Northern  army,  March,  1777,  was  superseded 
by  him  in  May,  and  was  reinstated  in  the  command  by  Con 
gress,  Aug.  4,  1777.     His  military  fame  was  blasted  by  the 
disastrous  battle  of  Camden,  S.  C.,  Aug.  6,   1780.     On  the 
conclusion  of  peace  he  retired  to  his  estate  in  Virginia.     He 
removed,    1790,    to    New   York,    after    emancipating   all   his 
slaves.     He  died  in  New  York,  April  10,  1806. 

7.  Stanza  4,  line  4.     General    Howe   and  Admiral  Howe 
sailed  from  New  York  in  July,  1777,  for  the  Brandywine  and 
Germantown  campaigns. 

8.  Stanza  3,  line  i.     Clinton  left  New  York  Saturday,  Oct. 
4,  1777,  to  effect  an  union  with  Burgoyne. 

g.  Stanza  6,  line  26.  Capt.  William  Kidd  was  a  New  York 
shipmaster,  commissioned  by  William  III.,  King  of  England, 
in  1696,  to  suppress  piracy.  He  and  his  crew  turned  pirates, 
and  plundered  ships  along  the  coast  of  Malabar  and  Mada 
gascar.  He  returned  in  1698  to  New  York,  and  buried  a 
portion  of  his  treasures  on  Gardiner's  Island,  at  the  East  end 
of  Long  Island.  His  treasure  was  also  said  to  be  buried  at 
the  base  of  Dunderberg  on  the  Hudson,  and  below  Storm  King 
at  a  place  named  Plug  Point  or  Kidd's  Point.  Scandalous 
reports  led  to  his  arrest,  and  he  was  executed  in  London,  May 
24,  1701.  Many  attempts  have  been  made  to  discover  his 
abandoned  wealth. — New  Amer.  Cyc. 

10.  Stanza  y,  line  /.  lona  Island  lies  on  the  west  shore  of 
the  Hudson,  a  few  miles  north  of  Dunderberg.  It  is  named  for 
its  resemblance  to  lona  Island,  which  is  near  the  western  coast 
of  Scotland,  about  fifty  miles  west  from  Oban.  lona  was  pre 
sented  to  the  Irish  monk  Columba,  563  A.D.,  who  founded  a 
church  and  monastery  there,  and  from  the  island  as  head- 


NOTES   TO   CANTO    SECOND.  147 


quarters  labored  for  the  Christianization  of  Scotland. — Schaff, 
Ch.  Hist.,  iv. ,  65  seq. 

ii.  Stanza  8,  line  7.  Gen.  George  Clinton  was  governor  of 
the  State  1777-1795.  In  1777  he  was  appointed  brigadier- 
general  of  the  United  States.  Gen.  Richard  Montgomery  fell 
at  Quebec,  Dec.  31,  1775.  For  these  men  the  forts  were 
named. 

is.  Stanza  8,  line  q.  Capt.  Thomas  Machin,  engineer,  con 
structed  also  the  obstructions  across  the  Hudson  below  New- 
burgh,  1778,  and  assisted  in  the  engineering  operations  at 
Yorktown,  when  Cornwallis  was  captured,  1781. — Lossing's 
Field  Book  of  Rev.,  i.,  705. 

fj.  Stanza  8,  line  20.  Pollopel's  Isle  lies  in  the  Hudson 
above  Breakneck  Mountain,  near  the  east  shore.  A  pretty 
story  of  its  being  named  for  Mary  (Polly)  Pell  will  be  found  in 
Stories  of  the  Hudson,  G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons,  New  York. 

14.  Stanzag,  line 4.  Gen.  Israel  Putnam  was  born  in  Salem, 
Mass.,  Jan,  7,  1718.  He  died  in  Brooklyn,  Conn.,  May  19, 
1790.  Counties  are  named  for  him  in  many  states.  In  New 
York,  the  southern  part  of  Duchess  County,  241  square  miles 
in  extent,  was  erected  into  a  separate  county,  named  Putnam, 
June  12,  1812. 

75.  Stanza  10,  line  i .  The  Clinton  here  mentioned  was  an 
adherent  of  Charles  I. ,  who  fled  to  Ireland  after  the  defeat  of  the 
royalists.  Hi-s  grandson,  Charles  Clinton,  was  born  in  Long 
ford,  Ireland,  in  1690,  and  chartered  a  ship  to  come  to  America 
with  friends,  1729.  The  captain's  attempted  starvation  of  his 
passengers  suggested  a  mutiny,  which  was  prevented  by  a  land 
ing  effected  at  Cape  Cod,  Oct.  4,  1729.  The  place  for  a  per 
manent  settlement  was  selected  in  1731  in  Orange  County,  six 
miles  west  from  the  Hudson  and  sixty  miles  north  from  New 
York.  In  1756  Clinton  was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel,  and 
served  with  his  sons  James  and  George  in  the  expedition 
against  Fort  Frontenac,  now  Kingston,  Canada,  in  the  French 
war. 


1 48  WA  SHING  TON. 


16.  Stanza  /o,  line  7.  Gen.  James  Clinton  was  born  Aug.  q, 
1736,  and  died  Dec.  22,  1812.  Gen.  George  Clinton,  three 
years  younger  (born  July  26,  1739),  died  before  his  brother, 
although  in  the  same  year — April  20,  1812. 

77.  Stanza  //,  line  i.  Sir  Henry  Clinton  was  grandson  of 
Francis,  sixth  earl  of  Lincoln,  served  in  the  Hanoverian  War, 
and  was  sent  to  America  as  major-general  in  1775. 

18.  Stanza  n,  line  g.  Logan  is  Major  Logan,  of  the 
American  force. 

ig.  Stanza  //,  line  14.  The  Horse  Race  is  that  part  of  the 
Hudson  River  which  lies  between  Peekskill  Bay  and  the  bend 
at  Anthony's  Nose. 

20.  Stanza  //,  line  22.     Doodletown  is  now  Queensboro', 
town  of  Monroe,  Orange  County. 

21.  Stanza  12,    line  2.     Campbell    is    Lieutenant-Colonel 
Campbell  of  the    British  force,   mentioned  in  the  preceding 
stanza. 

22.  Stanza  12,  line  g.     Livingston   is  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Livingston,  sent  by  Governor  Clinton. 

23.  Stanza  12,  line  13.     Commodore  Hotham  commanded 
the  British  naval  force. 

24.  Stanza  T2,  line  22.      Lossing  says  :   "  Count  Grabowski, 
a  brave  Pole,  and  Lord  Rawdon  led  the  grenadiers  to  the  charge 
on  Fort  Montgomery,"     He  "  fell  at  the  foot  of  the  ramparts 
of  Fort  Montgomery,  pierced  by  three  bullets.     He  gave  his 
sword  to  a  grenadier  with  a  request  that  he  would  convey  it  to 
Lord  Rawdon,  with  the  assurance  of  the  owner  that  he  died  as 
a  brave  soldier  ought  to.     A  pile  of  stones  still  marks  the  burial- 
place  of  the  count." — Lossing,  Fd.  Bk.  of  Rev.,  i.,  736. 

25.  Stanza  12,  line  23.     Francis   Rawdon  Hastings,  born 
1754,  was  afterward  conspicuous  at  the  battles  of  Monmouth, 
1778,  and  Camden,  1780:  was  created  Baron  Rawdon,  and  in 
1812  Governor-general  of  India.     He  was  created  Marquis  of 
Hastings  1816,  and  died  1826. 

26.  Stanza  ij,  line  12.     Continental  Village  lies  at  the  south- 


NOTES    TO   CANTO    SECOND.  149 


eastern  end  of   Philiptown,  about  four  miles  northeast  from 
Peekskill,  and  as  many  miles  due  east  from  the  Hudson. 

27.  Stanza  14,  line  26.     Molly  Pitcher  was  an  Irish  woman. 
She  was  conspicuous  at  the  battle  of  Monmouth  for  working  a 
field-piece  after  the  death  of  her  husband  in  battle.     For  this 
Washington  gave  her  a  sergeant's  commission.     At  the  close  of 
the  war  she  lived  on  the  road  between  Fort  Montgomery  and 
Highland  Falls.     See  Canto  3,  stanza  7,  and  note. 

28.  Stanza  15,  line  i.     The  British  loss  was  140. 

29.  Stanza  i 5,  line  4..     Allison  was  colonel  of  a  regiment  from 
Goshen.     Lieutenant-Colonel  McClaughry  was  in  command  of 
Col.  James  Clinton's  regiment  from  New  Windsor,  near  New- 
burgh.     Major   Zachariah   Du    Bois   commanded    Col.    Jesse 
Woodhull's  regiment  from  Cornwall,  when  he  was  made  pris 
oner.     Livingston  and  Bruyn  were  lieutenant-colonels,  Logan 
and  Hamilton  were  majors. 

jo.  Stanza  75",  line  n.  The  Sugar  House  stood  in  Liberty 
Street  east  of  Nassau  Street,  New  York  City,  where  it  was 
built  in  1689  in  the  days  of  Leisler.  Its  use  as  a  prison  by  the 
British  is  described  in  Booth's  History  of  New  York,  pp.  514- 
520.  After  the  war  it  was  returned  to  its  original  use.  In 
1840  it  was  torn  down.  A  monument  to  the  patriots  who  died 
there,  and  in  the  prison  ship  Jersey,  stands  in  Trinity  Church 
yard,  New  York. 

j>/.  Stanza  16,  line  n.  See  Headley's  Washington  and 
His  Generals,  ii.,  174. 

32.  Stanza  77.  See  Bolton's  History  of  Westchester  County, 
i.,  162  ;  also  histories  of  Orange  and  Rockland  Counties. 

jj.  Stanza  iS,  line  i.  Capt.  Valentine  Mott  had  been  left 
in  charge  of  Fort  Constitution.  He  forsook  this  Oct.  7th, 

1777- 

34.  Stanza  18,  line  5.  Barrac-ks  were  constructed  at  Con 
tinental  Village  in  1777  to  accommodate  two  thousand  men. 
A  large  number  of  cattle  and  a  great  quantity  of  military  stores 
had  been  collected  there.  General  Tryon's  detachment  in- 


1 50  W 'A  SHING  TON. 


eluded  Emerich's  chasseurs  and  other  Germans,  with  a  three- 
pounder.  They  destroyed  the  settlement  Oct.  gth. 

35.  Stanza  18,  line  2g.  Nelson's  Ferry  ran  between  Gee's 
Point  on  the  west  shore  and  the  island  opposite.  A  lighthouse 
stands  now  on  Gee's  Point. 

j>6.  Stanza  ig.  The  expedition  up  the  Hudson  consisted  of 
three  thousand  six  hundred  men  under  General  Vaughan,  car 
ried  in  a  flying  squadron  of  light  frigates  under  Sir  James 
Wallace.  Kingston  was  burned  Oct.  13,  1777.  Instead  of 
relieving  Burgoyne,  who  surrendered  after  the  battles  of  Still- 
water,  Oct.  7th,  and  Saratoga  or  Bemis's  Heights,  Sept.  igth, 
at  Schuylerville,  Oct,  17,  1777,  the  expedition  devoted  itself 
to  marauding. 

j>7.  Stanza  20,  line  5.  The  Governor  is  Gov.  George 
Clinton. 

38.  Stanza  20,  line  8.  Burgoyne  had  urged  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  to  make  a  diversion  in  his  favor.  Clinton  was  eager  to 
comply;  "but  a  reinforcement  of  troops  from  Europe,  ex 
pected  for  several  weeks,  was  still  delayed.  This  force, 
amounting  to  almost  two  thousand  men,  under  General 
Robertson,  arrived  at  the  beginning  of  October.  Having 
sailed  in  Dutch  bottoms,  they  were  three  months  on  the 
voyage." — Lossing's  Field  Book,  i.,  733.  The  resistance  at 
Forts  Clinton  and  Montgomery  was  not  in  vain.  It  delayed 
the  expedition  of  Clinton,  and  taught  the  British  caution, 
giving  them  a  fresh  taste  of  American  determination  and 
resistance. 


NOTES  TO  CANTO  THIRD 


/.  Stanza  2.  The  repulse  of  the  Hessians  under  Count 
Donop  at  Red  Bank,  near  Philadelphia,  occurred  Oct.  22, 
1777.  The  bombardment  of  Fort  Mifflin  occurred  Nov.  10- 
*5t  I777-  The  Americans  were  commanded  by  Major  Simeon 
Thayer,  of  Rhode  Island,  and  Major  Fleury,  a  French  En 
gineer. — Bancroft,  United  States,  v.,  198. 

2.  Stanza  j.  Valley  Forge  is  described  in  Lossing's  Field 
Book,  ii.,  125-8  ;  also  the  cabal  of  General  Conway  and  other 
foreign-born  officers  against  Washington,  prompted  by  Gates's 
success  against  Burgoyne. 

j.  Stanza  4.  The  Articles  of  Confederation  and  Perpetual 
Union,  having  been  matured  by  the  Continental  Congress, 
were  adopted  Nov.  15,  1777,  to  be  submitted  for  approbation 
to  the  several  States.  See  note  on  Canto,  i.,  St.  I,  line  6. 
The  delegates  signed  the  Articles  July  9,  1778,  with  a  sub 
scription  which  began  :  "  And  whereas  it  hath  pleased  the 
great  Governor  of  the  world  to  incline  the  hearts  of  the  legis 
latures  we  respectively  represent  in  Congress  to  approve  of, 
and  to  authorize  us  to  ratify  the  said  Articles  of  Confederation 
and  Perpetual  Union,  Know  ye,"  etc. 

4.  Stanza  jj.      On   Feb.    6,    1778,    a  treaty   of   amity  and 
commerce  and  an  eventual  defensive  treaty  of  alliance  were 
concluded  between  the  King  of  France  and  the  United  States. 

5.  Stanza  5,  line  21.     The  statue  of  the  Goddess  of  Liberty 
enlightening  the  world,  designed  by  M.   Bartholdi,  a  French 


152  WA  SHING  TON. 


sculptor,  and  contributed  by  popular  subscriptions  in  France, 
was  formally  presented  to  the  United  States  Oct.  26,  1886. 
The  pedestal  was  built  by  popular  subscriptions  in  the  United 
States.  The  total  height  is  306  feet. 

6.  Stanza  6,  line  i.     Written  June  18,   1889,  one  hundred 
and  eleven  years  after  the  departure  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton  from 
Philadelphia,  to  whom  Lord  Howe  relinquished  the  command 
of  the  British  forces,    17,000  strong.     The  festival   given  to 
Lord  Howe,  May  18,  1776,  is  described  by  Bancroft,  United 
States,  v. ,  269. 

7.  Stanza  6,  line  <?.     The  rejoicing  at  Valley  Forge  over  the 
French  alliance  took  place  May  6,  1778. 

8.  Stanza  7,  line  6.     The  Battle  of  Monmouth  was  fought 
June  28,  1778. 

g.    Stanza  7,  line  77.     See  Canto  2,  stanza  14  and  note. 

TO.  Stanza  8,  line  4.  The  massacre  of  Wyoming  on  the  Sus- 
quehanna  was  perpetrated  in  July,  1778,  by  a  body  of  eleven 
hundred  tories  and  Indians  under  Col.  John  Butler  and  the 
Indian  chief  Brandt. 

//,  Stanza  S,  line  12.  Nikolaus  Ludwig,  Count  of  Zinzen- 
dorf  and  Pottendorf,  founder  of  the  revived  sect  of  Moravians 
or  United  Brethren,  born  in  Dresden,  Saxony,  May  26,  1700, 
took  orders  in  1734,  visited  North  America,  1741-1743,  and 
established  the  first  Indian  Moravian  congregation  in  America 
at  Shekomeco. 

12.  Stanza  8,  line  16.  Thomas  Campbell's  Gertrude  of 
Wyoming,  published  1809,  adopts  the  Spencerian  stanza,  eight 
pentameters  followed  by  a  closing  hexameter. 

/j>.  Stanza  <?,  line  2j.  The  British,  under  Colonel  Camp 
bell,  took  Savannah,  Dec.  2gth,  1778. 

14.  Stanza  g,  line  20.  The  celebration  of  the  French  alli 
ance  at  Pluckemin,  N.  J.,  occurred  Feb.  6,  1778.  Washing 
ton's  "  Rock  "  is  near  Middlebrook. 

75.  Stanza  so,  line  2.  In  November,  1889,  four  States 
were  admitted  to  the  Union  :  North  Dakota,  South  Dakota, 
Montana,  and  Washington.  In  1890  Idaho  and  Wyoming 


NOTES    TO    CANTO    THIRD.  153 


were  admitted.     Total  in  1893,  forty-four.     Utah,  admitted  in 
1895,  makes  forty-five. 

16.  Stanza  to,  line  20.     Col.  George  Rogers  Clarke,  of  Vir 
ginia,  marched  from  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio,  in  the  Spring  of 
1778,  and  took  Vincennes,  capital  of  Knox  county,  Ind.,  Feb. 
20,  1779. 

17.  Stanza    10,    line  j6.      Louisville   was   settled   during 
Colonel  Clarke's  expedition,    1778,   and  in  1780  the  Virginia 
legislature  named  it  Louisville,  in  honor  of  Louis  XVI.   of 
France. 

18.  Stanza  n,   line  8.     In   May,   1779,  Clinton  sent  2500 
men,  under  General  Matthews,  to  the  Chesapeake. 

ig.  Stanza  n,  line  ij.  In  June,  1779,  Clinton  captured 
Stony  Point  and  Verplanck's  Point,  which  lie  on  the  Hudson 
River  opposite  one  another,  about  thirteen  miles  south  of 
Cold  Spring. 

20.  Stanza  12,  line  i.     Early  in  July,  1779,  General  Tryon, 
late  governor  of  New  York,  ravaged  the  coast  towns  of  Long 
Island  Sound. 

21.  Stanza   fj,  line  i.     Gen.  Anthony  Wayne  was  born  at 
Waynesborough,  Chester  County,  Penn.,  Jan.  i,  1745,  died  at 
Erie,  Penn.,  Dec.  14,  1796.    11  is  grandfather,  Anthony  Wayne, 
a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England,  emigrated  to  Wicklow,  Ire 
land,  and  in  1722  to  Pennsylvania. 

22.  Stanza  14,  line  rj.     See  Lossing's  Pictorial  Field  Book 
of  the  Revolution,  i.,  742. 

23.  Stanza  15,  line  j.     Washington  was  at  West  Point  July 
25-Nov.  28,  1779.     Before  this  his  headquarters  were  at  New 
Windsor,  near  Newburgh,  June  23d,  where  presumably  the 
plan  against  Stony   Point  was  matured.     On  July  1st  General 
Wayne  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  light  infantry  of 
the  line,  and  was  stationed  near  Dunderberg,  between  Fort 
Montgomery  and  the  main  army  under  General  Putnam  at 
Smith's  Clove,  far  in  the  rear  of  Haverstraw. 

24.  Stanza  j6,  line  j.     For  the  slory  of  Pompey,  see  Los- 
sing's  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution,  i.,  744. 


I  5  4  WA  SUING  TON. 


25.  Stanza    76,   fine  28.     Peter   Muhlenberg  was  born   at 
Trappe,  Perm.,  Oct.  n,  1746,  son  of  Henry  Melchior  Muhlen 
berg,    D.D.,    founder   of    the  German    Lutheran    Church    in 
America.      He    was   ordained  in  England,    and   preached   at 
Woodstock,  Va. ,  where,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolu 
tionary  War,  he  formed  a  regiment  of  his  parishioners.     He 
participated  in  several  battles,  and  was  made  brigadier-general 
i'1  I777.  and  major-general  at  the  close  of  the  war.     He  served 
in  Congress,  and  was  collector  of  the  port  at  Philadelphia  when 
he  died,  Oct.  i.,  1807. 

26.  Stanza  16,  line  35.     Maj.  John  Stewart  received  a  medal 
from  Congress  for  his  bravery. 

2j.  Stanza  16,  line  37.  De  Fleury  was  descended  from 
Cardinal  De  Fleury,  prime  minister  to  Louis  XV.  He  came  to 
America  soon  after  1776,  and  Washington  obtained  him  a  com 
mission.  For  his  gallantry  at  Brandywine  Congress  gave  him 
a  horse.  For  his  gallantry  at  Stony  Point  Congress  gave  him 
a  medal.  Lieut. -Col.  De  Fleury  returned  to  France  soon 
after  this. 

28.  Stanza  16,  line  42.  Gibbon  and  Knox  were  lieutenants. 
They  were  brevetted  captains. 

2g.   Stanza  1 6,  line  48.   Butler  was  a  colonel,  Murfey  a  major. 

30.  Stanza  77,  line  22.  Fishbrow  and  Archer  were  General 
Wayne's  aides. 

jr.  Stanza  if,  line  37.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Johnson,  of 
the  seventh  foot,  was  in  command  of  the  British  force. 

32.  Stanza  77,  line  41 .     Wayne  received  the  thanks  of  Con 
gress  and  a  gold  medal. 

33.  Stanza  18,   line  10.     Maj. -Gen.  Robert  Howe  was  de 
layed  in  his  attack  on  Verplanck's  Point,  and  Clinton  reinforced 
the  garrison. 

34.  Stanza  18,  line  3.     The  works  at  Stony  Point  were  de 
stroyed  on  the  night  of  July  i8th,  after  the  removal  of  ord 
nance  and  stores.      The   British  took  possession  again  July 
2Oth.     Some  of  the  ordnance  was  sunk  by  the  British  on  its 
removal  on  a  galley  to  West  Point. 


NOTES  TO  CANTO  FOURTH 


1.  Stanza  /,  line  i.    The  name  West  Point  describes  a  prom 
ontory  on  the  west  bank  of  the   Hudson,  distant  about  fifty 
miles  north  of  New   York.     On   top  is  a  level  plateau  one 
hundred  and  fifty-seven  feet  above  tide  water.     The  ground 
covered  by  the  United  States  reservation  is  traced  legally  to 
the  Congreve  Patent  of  May   17,    1723,  which  calls  it  "The 
Stony   Point  on  the  west  side  of    Hudson  River  opposite  to 
Matler's   Rock,   and   the    Moore  Patent  of  March  25,   1747, 
both  of  which  were  deeded  to  the  United  States  for  $11,065 
Sept.  10,  1790.     An  additional  tract  was  purchased  in  1824, 
and  the  State  of  New  York  ceded  jurisdiction  over  these  por 
tions  of  its  territory,  taken  from  Cornwall  township,  Orange 
County,  in  1826.       An  enlargement  of    the  reservation  was 
purchased  in   1889.       The  acreage  at  present  is   2330  acres. 
Population  about  1 600. 

2.  Stanza  /,  line  20.     Hudson's  Half  Moon,  anchored  at 
Cohn's  Hook,  about  two  miles  south  of  West  Point,  Sept.  14, 
1609. 

j>.  Stanza  f,  line  24.  Buttermilk  Falls  are  sometimes  called 
Highland  Falls. 

4.  Stanza  2,  line  i.  North  of  Anthony's  Nose  the  Noch- 
peems  held  the  chieftaincy  in  three  villages  of  the  Keskist- 
koncks,  Pasquasheck,  and  Nochpeem  on  the  Hudson.  The 
155 


I  5  6  WA  SUING  TON. 


principal  village,  Canopus,  was  named  from  their  Sachem,  who 
lived  on  a  hill  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  present  town  of 
Putnam  Valley.  See  Ruttenber's  Indian  Tribes  of  the  Hudson 
River,  p.  So. 

3.  Stanza  2,  line  /j.  Shatemuc  means  Swan's  Neck,  and 
refers  specially  to  the  shape  of  the  Hudson  as  it  winds  around 
West  Point  and  Constitution  Island. 

6.  Stanza  2,  line  20.       The  English  rule  succeeded  to  the 
Dutch  in  1664.     Patents  then  were  issued  from  the  English 
crown.     See  note  on  Stanza  i,  line  i. 

7.  Stanza  j,    line   15.     Gen.    Samuel  II.   Parsons   arrived 
January,  1778.     He  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  after  the 
war,  in  1787,   he   was  appointed   one  of    the  judges  of   the 
Northwestern  Territory.     He  was  drowned  in  the  Ohio,  in 
December,  1789. 

8.  Stanza  j,  line  77.   Lieutenant-Colonel  (afterward  Colonel) 
La  Radiere,   was  one  of  four   French  engineers  secured  by 
Franklin  and  Deane,  and  commissioned  by  Congress.     Radiere 
died  in  the  service  in  1780. 

g.  Stanza  j,  line  ig.  Col.  Thaddeus  Kosciuszko  executed 
La  Radiere's  plans.  Kosciuszko  was  born  in  Lithuania  in 
1736,  of  an  ancient  and  noble  family,  educated  at  the  military 
school  of  Warsaw  and  in  France.  Franklin  recommended  him 
to  Washington,  who  made  him  an  aide.  In  October  1776, 
Congress  appointed  him  colonel  of  engineers.  In  1794  Poland 
made  him  military  dictator.  Imprisoned  by  the  Russian 
Empress  Catherine,  he  was  released  by  Paul,  whose  honors  he 
refused.  In  1797  he  visited  the  United  States.  Congress  voted 
him  a  grant  of  land.  Returning  to  Switzerland,  he  died  there 
Oct.  16,  1817.  His  remains  were  taken  to  Cracow. 

jo.  Stanza  j,  line  22.  Fort  Putnam,  on  Mount  Independ 
ence,  six  hundred  feet  above  tide  water,  was  built  by  Col. 
Rufus  Putnam's  Massachusetts  regiment,  and  it  was  named  for 
the  Colonel  in  the  spring  of  1778. 

ii.   Stanza  j,  line  24.     Samuel  Wyllys  was  commissioned 


NOTES    TO    CANTO  FOURTH.  157 


colonel  from  Connecticut  July  i,  1775.  Samuel  B.  Webb  was 
commissioned  colonel  from  Massachusetts  June  i,  1777. 

12.  Stanza  3,  line  27.  The  name  Fort  Arnold  was  changed 
to  Fort  Clinton  in  1780. 

ij.  Stanza  4,  line  12.  The  headquarters  of  General  Wash 
ington  were  at  West  Point,  July  25~Nov.  28,  1779. 

14.  Stanza  4,  line  ig.  John  Nixon  was  born  at  Farmingham, 
Mass.,  March  4,  1725,  was  one  of  the  Minute  Men  at  Lexing 
ton,  and  headed  his  regiment  at  Bunker  Hill,  1775.  He  was 
commissioned  a  brigadier-general  Aug.  9,  1776.  On  account 
of  ill-health  he  resigned  his  commission  in  1780.  He  died 
March  24,  1815. 

/j".  Stanza  6 ,  line  i .  Major  Henry  Lee,  of  Virginia  (1756- 
1816),  noted  for  the  legion  which  he  commanded.  The  ex 
ploit  at  Paulus's  Hook  occurred  Aug.  18,  1779. 

16.  Stanza  7,  line  I.     Generals  Sullivan  and  James  Clinton 
defeated  the  Indians  and  Tories  at  Newtown,  now  Elmira, 
Aug.  29,  1778. 

17.  Stanza  8,  line  i.     The  engagement  here  celebrated  took 
place  Sept.  23,  1779,  at  night. 

18.  Stanza  g.     Charleston  fell  May  1 2,  1780.     The  Battle  of 
Camden   was    fought    August    6th.       The    barracks    at    Fort 
Arnold  were  burned  in  the  winter  of  1779-1780. 

jg.  Stanza  10.  The  engagement  at  Springfield,  N.  J.,  oc 
curred  June  23,  1780.  The  French  fleet  arrived  in  July. 
Washington  and  Rochambeau  conferred  first,  Sept.  21,  1780. 

20.  Stanza  n.     Benedict  Arnold  born  Jan.  3,   1740,  died 
at  London,  June  14,  1801. 

21.  Stanza  12.     John  Andre  born,  1771. 

22.  Stanza  ij,   line  j.     Teller's  Point  divides  Croton  Bay 
from  Haverstraw  Bay,  on  the  Hudson. 

23.  Stanza  14,  line  10.     Crompond,  now  Yorktown,  West- 
chester  County,    a  railway  station  and   post-office,   six  miles 
east  of  Peekskill.     Here  a  party  of  sentinels  under  Captain 
Boyd  caused  a  detention. 


158  WA  SUING  TON. 


24.  Stanza  14,  line  77.     The  present  bridge  over  the  Croton 
River,  near  the  Croton  dam,  stands  east  of  Pine  Bridge.     The 
Americans  kept  a  strong  guard  there,  as  it  was  the  chief  point 
of  communication  between  the  lines. 

25.  Stanza  16,  line  jo.     Andre  was  executed  Oct.  2,  1780. 
His  remains  were  removed  Aug.  10,  1821,  from  Tappan,  and 
buried  in  Westminster  Abbey,  near  his  monument,  Nov.  28, 
1821. 

2(5.  Stanza  77,  line  14.  This  fete,  May  31,  1782,  is  de 
scribed  in  Boynton's  Hist,  of  West  Point. 

27.  Stanza  18,  line  21.    Col.  Sylvanus  Thayer,  born  at  Brain- 
tree,    Mass.,   1785,   studied    at  Dartmouth    and   West  Point, 
where  he  was  graduated,  1808.     He  served  on  the  Canadian 
frontier  and  in  Norfolk,  Va.,  in  the  war  of  1812.     He  made  a 
military  trip  to  Belgium  and  France.     Returning  in  1817,  he 
was   appointed   superintendent   of   the   West   Point    Military 
Academy,  and  remained  there  until  1833,  when  he  was  ap 
pointed  to  construct  the  defences  of  Boston  harbor.     He  was 
retired  in  1862,  and  died  September  7,  1872. 

28.  Stanza  79,  line  i.     Major   Dade,  with  117  men,  was 
attacked  by  the  Seminole  Indians,  Dec.  28,  1835,  and  all  but 
four  were  killed.     The  party  was  marching  from  Tampa  Bay, 
Florida,  to  relieve  General  Clinch  at  Fort  Duane,  near  Orange 
Lake.     The  Seminole  war  was  occasioned  by  the  government's 
attempt  to  remove  the  Seminoles  from  Florida  to  land  west  of 
the  Mississippi. 

29.  Stanza  79,  line  8.     Maj.-Gen.  John  Sedgwick  was  born 
in  Connecticut,  Sept.  13,  1813  ;  graduated  at  West  Point,  1837  ; 
served  in  Mexico  ;  was  wounded  at  Antietam,  and  killed  in 
the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May  5-6,  1864. 

jo.  Stanza  79,  line  fj.  Capt.  Roger  Alden  (1754-1836)  was 
aide  to  General  Greene,  and  later  ordnance  keeper  at  West 
Point. 

5>7.  Stanza  79,  line  14.  Alexander  Ramsay  Thompson 
(1794-1837)  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  Lieutenant-Colonel, 


NOTES    TO   CANTO  FOURTH.  159 


1837,  he  was  killed  at  Okee-cho-bee  in  Southern  Florida  in 
leading  a  desperate  charge  of  his  regiment  against  the  Seminole 
Indians. 

32.  Stanza  ig,  line  15.  Maj.-Gen.  Winfield  Scott  (1786- 
1866).  Captain  in  1808  ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  1812.  Served 
in  the  war  of  1812.  Brigadier-General,  1814  ;  Major-General, 
1814  ;  commander-in-chief,  1841.  Served  in  the  Mexican  war. 
He  entered  the  city  of  Mexico  Sept.  14,  1847. 

jj.  Stanza  i q,  line  16.  Brig. -Gen.  Robert  Anderson  (1805- 
1871).  Graduated  at  West  Point,  1825  ;  served  in  Indian  and 
Mexican  wars;  commanded  Fort  Sumter,  Charleston,  S.  C., 
when  it  was  bombarded  thirty-six  hours  by  the  Confederates 
under  General  Beauregard,  and  surrendered  April  14,  1861  ; 
Brigadier-General,  May,  1861,  and  soon  retired  for  ill  health. 

34.  Stanza  ig,  line  18.  Gen.  Quincy  Adams  Gilmore  (1825- 
1890),  a  noted  engineer. 

jj".  Stanza  79,  line  20.  Gen.  George  Armstrong  Custer 
(1839-1876)  noted  in  the  civil  war;  slain  by  the  Indians  in 
Montana. 

j6.  Stanza  ig,  line 24.  Gen.  Ulysses  Simpson  Grant  (April 
27,  i822-July  23,  1885)  graduated  at  West  Point,  1843  ;  served 
as  Lieutenant  in  the  Mexican  war,  in  California  and  Oregon. 
Captain,  1853,  then  farmer  and  clerk.  Colonel  of  2ist  Illinois 
in  1861  ;  General  and  commander-in-chief  of  the  Army, 
1864-1869.  President  of  United  States,  1869-1877.  Made 
tour  of  the  world,  1878-1880. 

j>7.  Stanza  79,  line  24.  Gen.  William  Tecumseh  Sherman 
(Feb.  8,  i820-Feb.  14,  1891)  graduated  at  West  Point,  1840 ; 
lieutenant ;  served  in  the  Mexican  war  ;  1853,  in  business  and 
practised  law.  Colonel  of  i6th  Infantry,  1861  ;  Brigadier- 
General  in  1861  ;  Major-General  in  1862  ;  made  the  march 
through  Georgia  to  the  sea,  1864;  Lieutenant-General  in 
1866  ;  General  in  1869  ;  retired  Feb.  8,  1884. 

38.  Stanza  79,  line  24.  Gen.  Philip  Henry  Sheridan 
(March  6,  i83i-Aug.  5,  1888)  graduated  at  West  Point  1853  ; 


l6o  WASHINGTON. 


lieutenant  and  captain,  Colonel  of  2<3  Mich.  Cavalry,  1862  ; 
Brigadier-General,  July  i,  1862  ;  Major-General,  April,  1863  ; 
won  the  battle  of  Winchester,  Va.  ;  Lieutenant-General, 
1869 ;  commander  of  the  Army,  1883  ;  made  General  while 
dying,  1888. 

J9-  Stanza  ig,  line  28.  Gen.  Robert  Edward  Lee  (1807- 
1870),  son  of  "  Legion  Harry  "  Lee.  Graduated  from  West 
Point,  1829,  second  in  a  class  of  forty-six.  Lieutenant  in  the 
Mexican  war  ;  commanded  West  Point,  1852-55  ;  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  of  2d  Cavalry  ;  made  commander-in-chief  of  Con 
federate  forces  in  Virginia,  1861  ;  surrendered  to  Gen.  U.  S. 
Grant  at  Appomattox,  Va. ,  April  9,  1865  ;  afterward  president 
of  Washington  College,  Va. 

40.  Stanza   ig,    line  28.     Gen.    Pierre    Gustave    Toutant 
Beauregard  (1818-1893)  was  graduated  second  in  the  class  of 
1838  at  West  Point,  engineer  ;  served  in  Mexican  war  ;  fired 
on  Fort  Sumter,  April  12,   1861  ;  held  various  commands  in 
the  Confederate  service,  and  surrendered  to  General  Sherman, 
1865. 

41.  Stanza   ig,   line  2g.     Maj.-Gen.  George  Brinton  Mc- 
Clellan  (1826-1885)  graduated  second  in  the  class  of  1846  at 
West  Point ;  served  in  Mexican  war  and  in  the  West ;  Major- 
General,  1861,  and  commander-in-chief  until  relieved  after  the 
battles  of  the   Peninsula  Campaign  in  Virginia,  Nov.  7,  1862. 
He  was  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  in  1864  ;  was  governor 
of  New  Jersey,  1879-1882. 

42.  Stanza  ig,  line 30.     Maj.-Gen.   Henry  Wager  Halleck 
(1816-1872)  was  graduated  third  in  the  class  of  1839;  served 
in  the    Mexican   war  ;  Major-General,    1861;  commander-in- 
chief,  1862-1864. 


NOTES  TO  CANTO  FIFTH 


/.  Stanza  2,  line  4.  Maj.-Gen.  Francis  John,  Marquis  de 
Chastellux,  came  to  America  with  Rochambeau.  He  traveled 
extensively,  and  wrote  a  journal  which  was  published — twenty- 
four  copies  in  French,  and  an  English  version  in  1787. 

2.  Stanza  j,  line  ig.     The  Constitution  of  the  State  of  New 
York  was  adopted  April  20,  1777-     The  Second  Constitution 
was  ratified  by  the  people  Jan.    15-17,    1822.      The  Third 
Constitution  was  adopted  Nov,  3,  1846. 

3.  Stanza   4,   line  12.     Enoch  Crosby,   born  in   Harwich, 
Mass.,  Jan.  4,  1750,  served  in  Northern  campaign  of  1775,  and 
after  his  return  was  engaged  in  the  "  secret  service."     He  was 
a  resident  of  Southeast,  Putnam  Co. 

4.  Stanza  4,  line  24.     The  Wharton  House  is  now  owned 
by  Mr.  Samuel  Huestis,  1893. 

5.  Stanza  j ,  line 5.    Col.   Matthew  V.  B.  Brinckerhoff  oc 
cupied  a  house  at  the  angle  of  the  old  post  road  and  the  new 
road  to  Fishkill  Hook. 

6.  Stanza  7,  line  fj.     Table  Rock  is  a  rocky  bluff  which 
commands  a  fine  view  south,  situated  on  the  southwestern  end 
of  Mount  Taurus,  about  eight  hundred  feet  above  the  Hudson. 

7.  Stanza  7,  line  20.     This  is  a  local  tradition.     The  spring 
is  often  identified  with  that  which  supplies  the  pump  directly 
east  of  the  railway  station. 

8.  Stanza  7,  line  21.     Maj.-Gen.  Daniel  Butterfield,  born  in 
Utica,  N.  Y.,  Oct,  31,  1831,  graduated  1849  at  Union  College, 
merchant  in  New  York  City,  Colonel  of  I2th  N.  Y,  Infantry, 

"  161 


1 62  WASHINGTON. 


1860,  led  advance  over  Long  Bridge  into  Virginia,  in  actions 
in  Virginia,  Brigadier-General  1861,  Major-General  1862, 
wounded  at  Gettysburg,  where  he  was  chief  of  staff,  with  Gen 
eral  Sherman  in  his  campaign  ;  commanded  in  New  York 
harbor,  1865-69  ;  head  of  Sub-Treasury  in  New  York  ;  married 
Sept.  21,  1886,  in  London,  Mrs.  Julia  L.  James,  of  New 
York  ;  president  of  bank  at  Cold  Spring,  where  he  resides  dur 
ing  the  summer  at  Cragside  on  the  slope  of  Mount  Taurus. 

g.  Stanza  7,  line  26.  The  date  referred  to  is  May  i,  1889, 
the  centennial  of  Washington's  inauguration  as  President  of 
the  United  States  in  New  York. 

10.  Stanza  7,  line  29.     At  this  time  Benjamin  Harrison  was 
President  of  the  United  States. 

11.  Stanza  7,  line  32.     An  allusion  to  courtesies  extended  to 
General  and  Mrs.    Butterfield,    when  they  were  traveling  in 
Russia. 

12.  Stanza  <?,  line  2.     George  P.  Morris,  an  American  poet 
and  journalist,  born  in  Philadelphia,  Oct.  10,  1802,  removed  to 
New  York,  wrote  many  popular  ballads,  resided  at  Undercliff , 
at  the  base  of  Mount  Taurus,  Cold  Spring,  where  he  died, 
1864.      He  was  also   brigadier-general    in    the    New  York 
militia. 

ij.  Stanza  <?,  line  12.  The  West  Point  Foundry  was  incor 
porated  1818,  and  placed  at  Cold  Spring. 

14.  Stanza  8,  line  23.  Hon.  Gouverneur  Kemble  was  for 
years  president  of  the  foundry  company.  He  represented  the 
district  in  Congress,  1837-1839,  1841-1843. 

jj.  Stanza  8,  line  23.  Capt.  Robert  P.  Parrott,  inventor  of 
the  Parrott  gun,  was  identified  with  the  foundry  many  years. 
He  died  much  lamented,  1877. 

16.  Stanza  8,  line  24.  James  K.  Paulding's  family  resided 
many  years  at  Cold  Spring.  Mr.  Paulding  was  a  noted  novel 
ist,  and  also  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  1838-1841. 

77.  Stanza  g,  line  jj.  Arnold's  expedition  occurred  in 
January,  1781. 


NOTES    TO   CANTO  FIFTH.  163 


18.  Stanza  10,  line  5.  Morgan  checked  Tarleton  at  Cow- 
pens,  N.  C.,  Jan.  17,  1781. 

79.  Stanza  n,  line  4.  The  Yorktown  campaign  was 
matured  by  Washington  and  Rochambeau  at  interviews,  one 
at  Newport,  March  6,  1781,  the  other  at  Wethersfield,  Conn., 
May  21,  1781. 

20.  Stanza   n,    line  41.     General   Arnold   captured   New 
London,  Conn.,  Sept.  6,  1781.     He  took  Fort  Griswold  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  Thames,  and  massacred  the  commander, 
Colonel  Ledyard,  and  sixty  of  the  garrison  after  the  surrender. 

21.  Stanza  12,  line  j.     The  siege  of  Yorktown,  Va.,  began 
Sept  28,  1781. 

22.  Stanza  12,  line  f.     The  Duke  de  Lauzun  had  a  corps 
of  five  hundred  horsemen. 

23.  Stanza  12,  line  14.     The  charge  was  made  toward  the 
evening  of  Oct.  14,  1781. 

24.  Stanza   12,   line  15.     Col.    Alexander    Hamilton  com 
manded  a  battalion  of  light  infantry.     The  other  officers  are 
Major  Nicholas  Fish,  of  New  York.  Capt.  Aaron  Ogden,  of 
New  Jersey,  who  led  the  van  ;  Col.  John  Laurens  of  South 
Carolina,    Major   Gibbs,    commander   of  Washington's   Life- 
Guard  ;  Colonel  Gimat,  La  Fayette's  aide. 

25.  Stanza  12,  line  ig.     The  French  officers  here  mentioned 
are  Maj.-Gen.  the  Baron  de  Viomenil,  who  commanded  the 
French   detachment  of  grenadiers  and  chasseurs  ;  Count  Ma- 
thieu  Dumas,  one  of  Rochambeau's  aides  ;  Count  De  Deux- 
Ponts,  who  led  the  grenadiers  ;  Count  Charles  De  Lameth,  the 
adjutant-general  ;  De  Sireuil,  a  very  young  captain  of  yagers, 
wounded  three  times. 

26.  Stanza  13,  line  10.     Major-General  O'Hara  represented 
Cornwallis,  Charles  Cornwallis,  son  of  the  first  Earl  of  Corn- 
wallis,  who  entered  the  British  army,  1759.    Afterward  he  was 
Governor  of  India  and  Lord-Lieutenant  of  Ireland. 

27.  Stanza  fj,  line  ig,     Maj.-Gen.   Benjamin  Lincoln  had 
been  obliged  to  surrender  at  Charleston,  1780,  to  Sir  Henry 
Clinton. 


NOTES  TO  CANTO  SIXTH 


/.  Stanza  /,  line  j.  Orange  County  was  one  of  the  ten 
original  counties  into  which  New  York  State  was  divided, 
Nov.  i,  1683. 

2.  Stanza  i,  line  n.  The  Palatine  immigrants  were  in  New- 
burgh  in  1709.  Those  who  found  their  way  to  England  in 
1708  were  sent  to  Quassaick,  below  Newburgh.  They  were  a 
part  of  the  Swiss  contingent  in  the  allied  army  under  the  Prince 
of  Orange.  Of  these  ten  thousand  were  sent  to  America  by 
England,  and  located  mainly  in  Columbia  and  Ulster  Counties. 
A  patent  was  issued  for  Newburgh,  Dec.  18,  1719.  About 
1750  the  Dutch  and  Huguenots  came  in. 

j.  Stanza  2,  line  26.  The  monument  was  erected  July  22, 
1822,  in  memory  of  those  who  fell  at  the  battle  of  Minnisink, 
July  22,  1779. 

4.  Stanza  j,  line  2.     George  Clinton,  July  26,  i739~April 
20,  1812,  governor  of  New  York  1777-1795  and   1801-1804; 
vice-president  of  the  United  States,  1805-1812. 

5.  Stanza  3,  line  4.     James  Clinton,  Aug.  9,  1736-Dec.  22, 
1812. 

6.  Stanza^,  line 5.     DeWitt  Clinton,  March  2,  I76g-Feb. 
II,  1828.     Commissioners  for  the  Canal  Route  were  appointed 
in  1810.     Governor  Clinton  began  the  Canal  at  Rome,  July  4, 
1817.     He  entered  a  packet-boat  at  Buffalo,  Oct.   26,  1825, 

164 


NOTES    TO    CANTO   SIXTH.  165 


and  arrived  at  New  York  Nov.  4th.     To  this  canal  New  York 
owes  much  of  its  commercial  supremacy. 

7.  Stanza  j>,  line  12.     The  full  names  of  colonels  are  Col. 
Lewis  Du  Bois,  Col.  William  Allison,   Col.   John  Hathorn, 
Col.  Jesse    Woodhull,    Col.    James    Clinton,    Col.    Jonathan 
Hasbrouck. 

8.  Stanza  4,  line  4.     Plum  Point,  at  the  north  bank  of  Mur 
derer's  Creek,  contains  eighty  acres.     Captain  Machin's  battery 
had   fourteen   guns.     Chevaux   de   frise   stretched    across    to 
Pollepel's  Island,  1776. 

g.  Stanza  4,  line  7.  For  a  romantic  account  of  the  naming 
of  Pollepel's  Island  (Polly  Pell,  or  Mary  Pell),  see  Stories  of 
the  Hudson,  G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons,  New  York. 

10.  Stanza  4,  line  20.  Washington's  headquarters  were  at 
the  Ellison  House,  New  Windsor,  June,  1779,  from  the  autumn 
of  1780  through  the  summer  of  1781. 

//.  Stanza  5,  line  j.  The  Hasbrouck  House  takes  its  name 
from  Jonathan  Hasbrouck,  grandson  of  one  of  the  Huguenot 
founders  of  Newburgh.  It  was  completed  in  1770.  Wash 
ington  resided  there  from  the  spring  of  1782  until  August  18, 

1783- 

12.  Stanza  6,  line  10,  Washington's  reply  is  dated  May  22, 
1782. 

/j.  Stanza  7,  line  28.  Maj.-Gen.  Alexander  McDougall 
commanded  the  First  Division,  including  the  First  Brigade  (2d 
and  4th  Conn,  and  R.  I.  regiments),  under  Colonel  Swift,  and 
the  Second  Brigade  (ist,  5th,  gth  Conn.)  under  Brigadier- 
General  Huntington. 

14.  Stanza  7,  line  jo.  Maj.-Gen.  Arthur  St.  Clair  (a  native 
of  Edinburgh,  Scotland)  commanded  the  Second  Division,  in 
cluding  the  First  Brigade  (ist  and  2d  N.  Y.  regiments)  under 
Colonel  Courtland,  and  the  Second  Brigade  (ist  and  2d  N.  J.) 
under  Colonel  Dayton. 

75.  Stanza  7,  line  34.  Maj.-Gen.  William  Heath  was  a 
native  of  Roxbury,  Mass.  Burgoyne's  captured  army  was  in  his 


1 66  WA  SHING  TON. 


custody.  From  1779  ne  commanded  on  the  Hudson  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  published  interesting  Memoirs.  He 
died  in  1814,  the  last  survivor  of  the  major-generals  of  the 
Revolution. 

16.  Stanza  7 ,  line 36 .  Maj. -Gen.  Lord  Stirling  commanded 
the  First  Division,  including  the  First  Brigade  (loth  Mass., 
rst  and  2d  N.  H.  regiments)  under  Colonel  Tupper  (?),  and 
the  Second  Brigade  (ist  4th  and  7th  Mass.)  under  Colonel 
Sheppard. 

77.  Stanza  7 •,  line  39.  Maj. -Gen.  Robert  Howe  (of  North 
Carolina)  commanded  the  Second  Division,  including  the  First 
Brigade  (26,  5th  and  8th  Massachusetts  regiments)  under  Briga 
dier-General  Patterson,  and  the  Second  Brigade  (3d,  6th  and 
gth  Mass.)  under  Colonel  Greaton. 

18.  Stanza  <?,  line  13.  Crompond  is  now  Yorktown  post- 
office.  The  lakes  Mohegan  and  Mohansic  are  in  Yorktown 
township,  Westchester  County,  about  six  miles  east  from 
Peekskill. 

79.  Stanza  9,  line  2.  The  American  army  was  at  Peekskill 
to  receive  the  French  Sept.  14,  1782.  Rochambeau  remarked 
to  Washington,  "  You  have  formed  an  alliance  with  the  King 
of  Prussia.  These  troops  are  Prussians."  On  the  2Oth  the 
French  were  reviewed  ;  on  the  2ist  the  Americans.  On  the 
24th  the  French  encamped  at  Crompond.  The  American 
camp  was  at  Verplanck's  Point.  The  French  broke  camp 
October  22d.  The  Americans  began  their  march  to  New 
Windsor  October  26th. 

20.  Stanza  9,  line  u.    Sachoes'  brook,  probably  now  Arden's 
brook,  which  empties  into  the  Hudson. 

21.  Stanza  9,  line  28.     The  State  Camp  for  the  instruction 
of  the  National  Guard  of  the  State  of  New  York,  at  Roa  Hook, 
was  opened  in  1883. 

22.  Stanza  9,  line  34.    Rev.  Geo.  Whitefield  preached  in  the 
parlors  of  the  Birdsall  mansion  on  the  south  side  of  Main 
Street  near  Division  Street,   Peekskill,  removed  many  years 


NOTES    TO   CANTO   SIXTH.  1 67 


ago.  Whitefield's  visit  to  Peekskill  was  about  1770.  Garrick 
said  that  Whitefield  could  make  his  audience  weep  or  tremble 
merely  by  varying  his  pronunciation  of  the  word  Mesopotamia. 

23.  Stanza  9,  line  38.     Chauncey  Mitchell  Depew  was  born 
April  23,  1834,  at  Peekskill.     A  graduate  of  Yale  College,  a 
lawyer,  and  Railroad  president ;  his  oratorical  gifts  made  him 
popular  and  influential  at  home  and  abroad. 

24.  Stanza  10,   line  if.     Washington  called  this  meeting 
March  n,  1783.     It  was  held,  and  he  addressed  the  officers 
March  I5th  in  the  Temple,  or  New  Building,  at  New  Wind 
sor.     The  proposed  mutiny  which  he  averted  was  secretly  in 
spired   by   General    Gates,    whose   aide-de-camp,   Maj.    John 
Armstrong,  drafted  the  address  to  the  officers,  which  excited 
Washington's  alarm. 

25.  Stanza  fo,  line  77.     The  date  of  the  circular  varies  with 
the  time  of  emission  to  the  governors  of  the  several  States. 
They  were  requested  to  communicate  it  to  their  respective 
legislatures. 

26.  Stanza  10,  line  28.    Nathaniel  Parker  Willis  (1807-1867), 
journalist  and  poet,  was  a  friend  of  George  P.  Morris,  and 
occupied  a  country-seat,  "  Idlewild,"  at  Cornwall,  four  miles 
south  of  Newburg. 

2"j.  Stanza,  10  line  jo.  Rev.  E.  P.  Roe,  a  retired  Presby 
terian  clergyman,  who  wrote  many  popular  semi-religious 
novels,  1878-1888,  had  a  country  residence  at  Cornwall. 

28.  Stanza  //,  line  j.  Cessation  of  hostilities  was  publicly 
proclaimed  April  19,  1783. 

2g.  Stanza  u,  lineg.  Adams  was  afterward  vice-president 
with  Washington,  and  succeeded  him  as  President,  1797-1801. 
Franklin  became  president  of  Pennsylvania  and  delegate  to 
the  Federal  Constitutional  Convention.  He  died  1790.  Henry 
Laurens  had  been  president  of  the  Continental  Congress,  1776- 
1778,  had  been  captured  by  the  British  while  on  a  mission  to 
Holland,  and  imprisoned  until  1781  in  the  Tower  of  London. 
The  last  years  of  his  life  were  devoted  to  agriculture.  He  died 


1 68  WA  SHING  TON. 


in  1792,  and  his  remains  were,  at  his  request,  cremated.  John 
Jay  was  afterwards  chief-justice  of  the  United  States  under 
the  Constitution  whose  adoption  he  advocated,  and  governor 
of  New  York.  From  1801  to  1829,  the  time  of  his  death,  he 
lived  in  retirement  at  Bedford,  N.  Y. 

jo.  Stanza  //,  line  it.  The  British  Commissioners  were 
Richard  Oswald,  of  Scotland,  who  had  passed  many  years  in 
America,  Alleyne  Fitzherbert,  British  Minister  at  Brussels, 
and  Henry  Strachey,  under-secretary  of  State. 

jf.  Stanza  //,  line  13.  The  treaty  was  signed  in  Paris,  Nov. 
30,  1782. 

32.  Stanza  u,  line  25.     The  Temple  or  Public  Building  at 
the  encampment  at  New  Windsor,  erected  Jan.  g-March  6, 
1783.     General  Heath,  in  his  Memoirs,  says  :  "  Upon  an  emi 
nence  the  troops  erected  a  building,  handsomely  finished,  with  a 
spacious  hall  sufficient  to  contain  a  brigade  of  troops  on  Lord's 
days  for  public  worship,  with  an  orchestra  at  one  end  ;  the 
vault  of  the  hall  was  arched ;  at  each  end  of  the  hall  were  two 
rooms  conveniently  situated  for  the  issuing  of  general  orders, 
for  the  sittings  of  Boards  of  officers,  court-martials,  etc.,  and 
an  office  and  store  for  the  quartermaster  and  commissary's  de 
partments.     On  the  top  was  a  cupola  and  flag-staff,  on  which 
a  flag  was  hoisted  occasionally  for  signals,  etc." 

33.  Stanza  //,  line  27.     Rev.  John  Gano  (1727-1804),  pastor 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  N.  Y.  City,  1762-1788,  an  ardent 
patriot,  who  served  some  time  as  chaplain  to  General  Clinton's 
New  York  brigade. 

34.  Stanza  //,  line 32.     William  Billings,  born  in  Boston, 
Oct.  7,  1746,  died  there  Sept.  26,  1800  ;  earliest  of  American 
composers,  produced  a  number  of  patriotic  pieces,  popular  in 
the  camp  of  the  Revolutionary  army. 

35.  Stanza  12,  line  14.     The  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  was 
organized  June  19,  1783,  at  the  Verplanck  House,   two  miles 
northeast  of  Fishkill-on-Hudson.     In  1890  there  were  State 
societies  in   Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,   New  York,  New 


NOTES    TO   CANTO   SIXTH.  169 


Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  and  South  Carolina,  and  439  living 
members. 

36.  Stanza  12,  line  23.  Lucius  Quintius  Cincinnatus  served 
as  Consul  at  Rome,  B.C.  460,  but,  owing  to  popular  tumult,  re 
tired  to  his  farm.  The  successes  of  the  ^Equi  and  Volsci  led 
to  his  appointment  as  dictator,  458.  The  delegates,  who  were 
sent  to  announce  his  appointment,  found  him  ploughing  his 
own  fields.  His  campaign  against  the  enemy  was  successful. 
At  its  close  he  returned  to  Rome,  and  laid  down  his  dictatorial 
power,  after  having  held  it  only  fourteen  days,  and  returned 
to  his  farm,  Appointed  dictator  again  in  439,  he  delivered 
his  country  from  Spurius  Melius,  a  plebeian  knight,  who  was 
aiming  at  kingly  power.  He  retired  again  from  his  dictator 
ship  after  a  term  of  twenty-one  days. 

31 .  Stanza  ij,  line  j.  The  Hasbrouck  House  was  deeded 
to  the  State  of  New  York,  1849,  and  by  an  act  of  the  Legisla 
ture  placed  in  the  care  of  a  board  of  trustees. 

3$.  Stanza  ij,  line  16.  Society  of  Sons  of  the  Revolution 
incorporated,  1883. 

39.  Stanza  14.  Washington  entered  New  York,  Nov.  25, 
1783,  bade  farewell  to  his  general  officers  Dec.  4,  1783,  re 
signed  his  commission  Dec.  23,  1783,  at  Annapolis,  served  as 
President,  1789-1797,  and  died  Dec.  14,  1799. 


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